Our Story
In 1953, the Rt. Rev. Everett H. Jones, bishop of the Diocese of West Texas, granted a request from local residents to start an Episcopal mission in Blanco. The fledgling congregation voted to name the new church St. Michael and All Angels. Services were held at the Blanco Public Library, then located in a Quonset hut behind today’s City Hall. Church members also found a site to build their new church on the south side of the Blanco River, once a CCC camp for workers building Blanco State Park.
The Church is Built
Vernon Helmke, a 25-year-old graduate of the University of Texas School of Architecture, was hired to design St. Michael’s -- his first significant project. Although the church had only 20 communicants and a meager budget of $574, construction commenced with a groundbreaking on April 29, 1956. The $18,250 cost was funded by grants from the Diocese, a loan and other gifts. It was completed on the Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Sept. 29, 1956, a remarkable feat considering the church had been in existence only three years.
Early Leadership & Expansion
Vicars came and went in those days. Lay readers conducted Morning Prayer when there was no Communion. Eventually, priests were assigned to conduct Sunday services first at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cypress Mills and afterward at St. Michael’s. As the church grew, needs grew, such as a Sunday School for children. Henrietta Bourland Smith organized the first Sunday School in 1963 and continued to teach for many years. There was also the need for additional space for the children. This problem was resolved in 1989 when parishioners learned that the National Park Service wanted to sell a wood-frame house in the Lyndon Johnson National Historic Park. The minimum bid was $50. They bid $51, got the house and moved it to St. Michael’s. After sprucing up, it was named the Sunday House and utilized as a Sunday School.
Over the years, improvements continued to be made to St. Michael’s. This included expanding the original parish hall, renovating the Sunday House, purchasing more property on the south side of the campus for parking and the addition of a columbarium and prayer garden. State-of-the-art cameras and microphones were also installed to broadcast high quality services to home-bound viewers.
New Leadership & Growth
Since its beginnings, St. Michael’s had been served by once-weekly clergy to conduct Sunday services. This changed in 2020 when the Rev. Bryn Caddell was assigned to serve at St. Michael’s three days a week. In 2022, she was made the church’s first full-time vicar, with the financial support of the diocese.
Since her arrival, St. Michael’s has enjoyed strong growth, eventually requiring the church to add two services – 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The average Sunday attendance grew from 67 in 2023 to 82 for both services in 2024. In 2024 alone, it added 35 new members, bringing the total membership to around 150 and a corresponding dramatic increase in pledges and plate offerings. Godly Play for children, adult Christian formation and Bible studies are conducted throughout the year. Older youth participate in church projects and mission trips. A St. Michael’s Day celebration was launched in 2021 to salute first responders and military veterans and to mark the anniversary of St. Michael’s dedication. The church also financially supports community organizations and members volunteer each year in a wide variety of outreach activities.
Today
Visitors are warmly greeted at St. Michael’s and given welcome bags. Annual new members’ dinners are also held to allow those new to St. Michael’s to make new friends and meet members of the Bishop’s Committee. Members enjoy fellowship with each other at St. Michael’s traditional potluck luncheons on the first Sunday of each month as well as a quarterly breakfast between services.
With its rich history as a foundation, St. Michael and All Angels is a beautiful, vibrant, welcoming, caring, embracing and engaging family of faith and friendship that remains dedicated to a mission of discipleship, personal and spiritual growth and serving Christ in all persons throughout the community.
