Saint Michael and All Angels surpassed their $65 million campaign goal and raised more than $76 million from parishioners to support decades-long overdue revitalization, expansion of the church facilities, beauty of the sacred spaces and creating new areas to gather in community. The capital campaign is unprecedented in the church’s 78-year history and is one of the largest campaigns ever undertaken by an Episcopal Church in the U.S.

“The faithfulness and generosity of our parish is humbling, and the energy with which our members caught the bold vision for this campaign inspires me,” said the Rev. Dr. Christopher D. Girata, Rector of Saint Michael and All Angels. “This was a courageous and daring ask for everyone connected to Saint Michael, but when we painted the larger picture of how the investment would create opportunities for meaningful fellowship and gathering, as well as the impact it would have on the education of our younger generations, people acted immediately.”

Building our Future, publicly launched in 2023, is anchored in three pillars: upgrading the physical plant and facility infrastructure; expanding community spaces to encourage gathering and deeper fellowship; investing in education by enhancing spaces for nursery, preschool and other classes, including many in the Saint Michael Episcopal School.

Co-chairs of the capital campaign Matt and Mary Waller described guiding it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. “When I think of how my community should be gathering and interacting with each other, I think ‘This is how it’s supposed to be.’ That’s why people have given so eagerly to the vision—because it reflects how a community is meant to support and build one another up, together,” said Matt Waller.

Saint Michael’s campaign success is notable not only for its size and scope, but also because it comes at a time when religious giving in the U.S. is declining. According to a 2024 report from Giving USA, contributions to religious organizations reached a historic low of just 24% of total charitable giving in 2023. Church leadership attributes the success of the campaign to a clear and compelling vision, strategic community engagement and deep-rooted generosity of the Dallas faith community.

“For nearly 80 years, Christian disciples have grown in their faith at Saint Michael, but we had reached a point where growth—physically and spiritually—was challenging because of our campus. This investment transcends bricks and mortar. It will support the church’s mission and ministry for generations to come, and it will transform the greater Dallas community by fostering discipleship in meaningful ways,” Girata added.

The church selected The Beck Group, renowned for its expertise in construction, to oversee the development of Saint Michael’s building project, which began in December 2023 and successfully completed the first of two phases in September 2024. The first phase focused on critical updates to the building’s infrastructure and the expansion of educational spaces. This includes the renovation of the SMES and the church’s Education Wing, which provides expanded learning environments for children, youth, and adult formation programs.

The second phase of construction is well underway and involves building a new atrium, parish hall, music suite, café, indoor play areas for children, staff offices, and community gathering spaces. The upgrades to infrastructure, parking, and gathering spaces will provide a more unified, accessible environment for parishioners to come together in worship, education, and fellowship. This comprehensive investment ensures that the church’s space aligns with its values—rooted in Christian teachings and focused on promoting community and discipleship.

“Our church is called to raise up disciples of Jesus Christ, inspiring everyone in our community to pray, learn, serve, and give in new ways that deepens our impact,” Girata comments. “Our church is committed to fostering knowledge, faith, and fellowship, and these renovations allow us to create a stronger foundation for a vibrant future. We have used the gifts we have to increase our impact, and I hope this work will inspire other faith communities to do the same, using their gifts in bold, courageous ways.”

The construction project is on time and on budget and is scheduled to be complete in summer of 2026. Visit saintmichael.org/BuildingOurFuture to learn more about the campaign.

In addition to the capital campaign, Saint Michael has also spearheaded a first-of-its-kind ground leasing project. More than half of the revenue of that ground lease is dedicated to outreach and will fund millions of dollars in grants to local organizations over the coming years. Saint Michael plans to announce more on that project spring of 2025.