Canterbury MSU was founded in 1935 by members
of St. Paul's, Lansing. In 1945, the first chaplain was called. As the
Michigan Agricultural College grew rapidly into the present University,
so too did the number of students in attendance at the MSU Canterbury House.
One apocryphal story tells of an energetic young lay woman who, under orders
of the Fire Marshall not to allow more than the maximum number of people
in for Sunday Service, turned the Bishop of the diocese away, only of course,
until she was persuaded that he had come to confirm some students.
This chaplaincy utilized two Canterbury houses
until former students sought parish status. At that time, the chaplaincy
was re-established as All Saints Parish in 1953. At this time the new parish
was charged by the diocese to continue in its ministry to students. In
1965 the Episcopal Ministry at MSU was established as a chaplaincy separate
from the parish, with ties to All Saints. Funding for this ministry formerly
came entirely from the Diocese of Michigan.
Between 1983 and 2002, four chaplains served this
ministry: the Reverend John Mitman, the Reverend Les Muray, the Reverend
Jannel Glennie and the Reverend Allen Kannapell. Until 1996, the Episcopal
Diocese of Michigan fully funded a full time chaplain to serve at Michigan
State University. When the Diocese of Eastern Michigan was formed as a
new diocese, funding for the chaplaincies in the Diocese of Michigan diminished
and the first part time chaplain was called. Allen Kannapell served as
part time chaplain from 1997-2002.
In 2002, a new vision was cast by the governing
board of the chaplaincy. This new vision included hiring a full time chaplain
and recovering the large numbers of students that participated in our programs
in the 1970s and 80s. With the support of the Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, Bishop
of Michigan, the Reverend Sean Ferrell was hired by the Canterbury board.
In April of 2003, the original name of the Chaplaincy - “Canterbury” -
was reclaimed with the unanimous and enthusiastic approval of the governing
board and Bishop Gibbs
Today...
Our new chaplain is the Rev. Sarah Midzalkowski. Sarah works with the Canterbury Board and All Saints Church to provide leadership for this vital and growing student ministry. Many, many students are actively involved in our
weekly Sunday evening Eucharist. We continue to be funded by the Diocese
of Michigan, and individuals and parishes from all over Michigan continue
to offer support to this thriving ministry.
