Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church is the third oldest Episcopal church in Baton Rouge and the only Black Episcopal congregation in the city. The church was established primarily to provide an Episcopal church in Baton Rouge where Black Episcopalians could worship.

Dr. H. Horne Huggins, a physician from Nevis in the West Indies was concerned about being excluded from worshipping in the Episcopal church because of his race. He, along with Miss Elsie Lewis, an instructor at Southern University, had conversations concerning this situation with the Rev. George Wills Provost, Curate of Saint James Episcopal Church during the spring and summer of 1941.

In September of 1941, the Rt. Rev. John Long Jackson, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana met with Dr. Huggins and a group at Southern University. During this meeting the Bishop outlined the steps necessary for formal recognition of the group as an organized Mission of the Diocese of Louisiana. Encouraged by the Bishop, the group met on several occasions for further instructions on organization.

On October 8, 1941, the name “Saint Michael’s Church, Baton Rouge” was chosen for the proposed mission for two basic reasons: (1) There was no other parish similarly named in this diocese and (2) Saint Michael’s Day, September 29, could be celebrated while Southern University was in session. St. Michael’s was formally recognized as a Mission on January 17, 1942.

St. Michael’s continues to motivate its members to carry out the Great Commission as set forth by our Lord, Jesus Christ. One of the major objectives of the congregation is to achieve parish status. With God’s help and with the devotion and the work of the clergy and laity, this goal should be achieved along with its major goal of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.