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The Church of Saint Michael
the Archangel is a traditional Anglican parish continuing the parochial
and congregational life of the Church of Saint James the Less,
Philadelphia. Sunday Mass is at 9:30 at Ivy Hall, 6331 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia
19151. This is in Overbrook Farms, between City Avenue and 63rd
Street, a short walk from the Overbrook train station.
St Michael's began its current phase of life in 2006, when the
congregation of the Church of St James the Less left the St James
property in North Philadelphia for its current locations. St James the
Less had disaffiliated from the Episcopal Church in 1999, and the
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania sued the parish in 2001 to seize the
property. The Pennsylvania courts eventually decided that while the
parish owns the property, there exists an “implied trust” in favor of
the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Given the choice between the
property and the faith, the congregation chose the faith, and moved
out. While it has been hard to leave behind the landmark property, the
congregation is committed first and foremost to the faith once received
from the saints.
Fr David Ousley has been rector since 1983, having previously served
parishes in New York and Connecticut. He attended Yale College
and Nashotah House Theological Seminary, and holds a Ph.D. in
historical theology from the University of Chicago. His
publications include Pilgrimage: A Newsletter
of Chrsitian Spirituality, The Way of Holiness
(published by Latimer House in England), and articles in various
magazines, including Touchstone, The Evangelical Catholic,
The Church Times, etc. The rectory household
includes his wife, mother, three children, and a Corgi (the last
courtesy of the Montomgery County SPCA).
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