EDS & Emmanuel

Two weeks ago, at the Episcopal Day School’s annual Gator Gala Fundraiser, the school announced their dream to build two new buildings on our shared campus. It’s no secret that space issues have plagued both the church and the school. As each of us grow in size and in fulfillment of our mission, we have worked to provide the best quality of space possible to further the ministries of our organizations. Yet, both church and school find ourselves lacking the necessary facilities required for further growth.  

For over a year, the church and school leaderships have been diligently discussing ways to ease the constraints in which we find ourselves and grow the relationship between us. In an effort to thrive both independently and jointly, we have created a Letter of Intent (LOI). This document, reviewed and approved by the Diocese of North Carolina’s Standing Committee, outlines the terms of a 30 year ground lease to give the school the security and stability needed to fund and build their own school buildings while reengaging the Rector and Emmanuel on the school’s board of trustees.

The dream of the two buildings—a gym with classroom space and a two-story classroom and admin building—promises to alleviate those constraints. The two buildings would be built upon the plot of land containing the Gator Field, Media Center, and corner parking lot. In this process the school would move out of the old Choirmaster’s cottage and the two-story building connected to our Church and Parish Hall via breezeways.

Below is a concept to illustrate various hopes and possibilities from a simple site plan. I want to be clear, this work is in its infancy, and by no means does this document suggest a final product. What it does suggest is that a vision is materializing. Which is precisely why we are holding the Century Project meetings, to help craft that vision.  

I hope you will join us this Sunday as we continue our dive into parish ministries. We know the last meeting went long, so we have cut the presentation in half. On Sunday you will hear from our Outreach and Music Ministries. I look forward to seeing you there!

Morris+