Tallahassee church looks to community for restorative assistance after tornadoes strike

For the last 142 years, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church has given back to the Tallahassee community by way of donations, service, and outreach.

But now the church, at 1405 Melvin St., needs help.

After the tornadoes that struck the capital on May 10, the church suffered from damages that contractors estimate will cost $55,000 to repair.

From 9 a.m.-12 p.m this Saturday, May 25, organizers at the church are hosting a clean-up session to clear the land of debris in preparation for larger repairs with volunteers from sister Episcopal churches in the region.

The Rev. Hugh Chapman, Rector of St. Michael and All Angels Church, says that through its extensive history the church and its patrons have provided the local community with refuge as it has been needed.

“We have had a good outreach program, particularly to the homeless community,” Chapman said, as he sat in the church’s fellowship hall, which suffered the most damage from the recent weather woes.

“Often people call here who can’t afford to buy gas, who need food, who need somewhere to stay. So Motel 6 gets a fair bit of our money, because we’re commanded in scripture to take care of the stranger, the homeless, the needy and hungry.”

Even before Rev. Chapman was called to serve in 2017, members of the church were pillars in the community, such as former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson Jr.

Several decades earlier, the late Father David Henry Brooks, who was recognized in February as one of Tallahassee’s most influential African Americans, began hosting activism meetings for the civil rights movement in the same fellowship hall that now needs repairs.

Charlie Clark, the church’s junior warden, says the volunteer efforts are only a start, and it's the safest way for people to help restore the church.

As junior warden, Clark is tasked with the responsibility of physical upkeep within the facility, including the yard, custodial duties, and all repairs.

“The massive damage we had two weeks ago falls right into my lap,” Clark said. “I’m the one who does all of the notifications with the roofing companies and talking to the insurance companies. That’s me.”

Clark says there was a lot of damage outside the property with 13 broken trees. Most of the larger pieces have already been cut down. Now, the goal is to clear the remaining debris.

With damage to both the sanctuary roof and fellowship hall roof, the church will need to make up for the remaining $9,000 needed to cover the cost of repair and supplement the funds provided by their insurance companies.

For now, the immediate focus is to ensure a safe environment for worship. For more information on volunteering and ways to donate, visit http://www.stmichaelandallangels.org/.

Democrat writer Mycah Brown can be reached at MJBrown@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Local church hosts clean-up session addressing damage from tornadoes