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About Us

We seek to live the way of Jesus in love, humility, and service to others.

Welcome!

We are delighted that you are exploring our wonderful community, because we ourselves are a community of people committed to exploration. We have hundreds of years of history on the Upper West Side, but we aren’t stuck in it. That history only fuels our journey. We are seeking what God would have us do and be in the world as it is, so that we can be a part of making the world as God would have it be. We feed and nurture all who come in both body and soul, so that when we go out from here we all can feed and nurture others.

At St. Michael’s you will find a little of everybody here. Children and elders, gay and straight, rich and poor, and everyone in between. We’re all different colors and backgrounds. You’ll find someone like you here. Come and see.

We worship in a variety of ways, from formal-feeling Episcopal style (but always with a twist) to casual interactive prayer (but always with some silence). We celebrate with feasts and parties and fun, and pray in candlelit darkness and quiet. Our music is all over the map and part of everything we do. We study the stories and teachings of scripture and tradition and find truth in them for issues of justice and relationships in our day. We find healing in God’s love and welcome, an d we share it with others who come looking for wholeness.

There’s always something happening on our corner of 99th and Amsterdam. Come and be restless with us.

Blessings,
Mother Kate+

Clergy and Staff

Reach out to us anytime or stop by the church to speak with someone. Our ears, arms, and hearts are always open!

225 West 99th Street
New York, NY 10025

Clergy

The Reverend
Katharine Flexer

Rector

ext. 101

The Reverend
Julie Hoplamazian

Associate Rector

ext. 103

Children & Youth

Mary Ellen Lehmann

Director of Children’s and Youth Ministries

ext. 114

Music

John Edward Cantrell

Choirmaster & Organist

ext. 112

Laura Inman

Director of Children’s Choirs

ext. 112

Administrative Staff

Galina Koubassova

Director of Administration & Finance

ext. 115

Prakash (Raj) Harold

Facilities Manager

Samuel Francois

Office Coordinator
(including space rentals)

ext. 100

Damon Hankoff

Digital Media Manager
& Communications Coordinator

ext. 108

The Vestry

John Avery, Warden (2025); Kyle Okimoto, Warden (2026);
Ned Boyajian (2026); Gregory Bryant (2026); Walter Cain (2024);
Ridge Culver (2024); Marianna Klaiman (2026);
Serhat Krause, Chancellor (2024); Alex Lund, Clerk (2024);
Peter Olberg (2025); Anne O’Loughlin, Treasurer (2024);
Gwen Sealy-Singer (2024); Sam Sue (2025);
Denisha Williams (2025)

About Our Church

Our Church is our home, our sanctuary and a source of inspiration and wonder.

Art and Architecture

The current church building is the third on this site. It was designed by architect RobertW. Gibson and completed in 1891. It is made of Indiana limestone in the Northern Italian Renaissance or Romanesque-Byzantine style and provides a rich setting for worship. The style was a daring departure in church architecture at the time.The new Church was enhanced with chancel decorations by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. The Church was dedicated on December 16, 1891.

The Parish House of the same style was designed by architects Charles Merry and Robert W. Gibson and completed in 1902. This building was designed for community service and originally contained facilities for a school, laundry and kitchen.

Tiffany Stained Glass

St. Michael’s Church has been given has the privilege of worshiping in and caring for an exquisitely beautiful church building. The art and architecture of our church inspires us in our worship of God and draws us together as a community. We are stewards of this extraordinary building so that it may continue to inspire all who come through its doors. We invite you to learn a little about the art and architecture of our church through the content of these pages and hope that you will be able to experience its beauty in person.

Below, parishioner Rick Hamlin introduces us to the windows and mosaic in the Chapel of the Angels and reflects on their meaning. Rick is the executive editor of Guideposts magazine.