BRATTLEBORO — St. Michael's Episcopal Church welcomes the parish and the greater community to celebrate the close of the church's capital campaign and the completion of renovations and new construction.
The event is Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29.
Construction included a new chapel at the 156-year-old church on Bradley Avenue, off Putney Road.
The weekend is also designed to give thanks to members of the parish, the neighborhood, the architects, the construction team, the Vestry, and St. Michael's' clergy and staff for their support in helping the church meet one of the biggest challenges it's faced in decades.
The celebration begins Saturday afternoon with a welcome to visitors from the greater Brattleboro area, as well as to St. Michael's' parishioners.
All are invited to view displays of the construction process, hear the history of St. Michael's before and since the parish's move in the 1950s from Main Street to its current location, tour the new and renovated facilities, hear special entertainments, enjoy refreshments, and share in a parish supper.
On Sunday, the celebration continues with a 9 a.m. forum and 10:15 a.m. worship led by Bishop Thomas Ely of the Diocese of Vermont, and concludes with a festive coffee hour.
Weekend events include confirmation by the bishop of several new parish members and a reunion with old friends, including former clergy of the church.
The weekend also plans time for contemplative prayer in, and Bishop Ely's consecration of, the new Chapel of Mary Magdalen, the First Apostle.
All events are free and open to the public.