Saint Stephen’s to build new performing arts center

Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School and Christ Episcopal Church of Bradenton have long been neighbors and friends with church leadership serving on the school’s board of directors and teaching in classrooms.

The church even helped found the school, but now they are taking their friendship to a new level by striking a deal that will allow Saint Stephen’s to build a 16,700-square-foot performing arts center at an estimated cost of close to $7 million. The church is giving them the land, but there is more to do.

There were a lot of hoops to jump through to make the deal happen, but they were sorted out Wednesday night with city council approvals to annex various parcels of church property into the city to relocate the church’s current thrift store and food pantry. A special use permit was required to build the performing arts center and land use changes also were required.

Christ Episcopal Church Rector Father Joel Morsch said the agreement between the school and the church is to first tear down an old Spanish bungalow-style house across the street from the thrift store, build a new one it in the place of the old house and then demolish the old thrift store. The church will then transfer the deed for the land west of the church on 41st Street West to the school for the new facility.

“It’s a great idea proposed by the school and we have a good working relationship with them,” Morsch said.

The church will use the facility’s parking lot as well as get access to the new performing arts center. The center fulfills a long-term goal for Saint Stephen’s, which had wanted the center for a long time but the school was landlocked. The deal with their neighbor makes it a win-win for everyone, Morsch said.

The new center will be large enough for 700 people, fulfill the purpose for school and church events, as well as potentially be used by other nonprofit organizations. Morsch is more excited to update his thrift store and food pantry, which is open once a month on Thursdays and helps feed and clothe between 400-500 families a month.

“This is something good for the church, the school and the neighborhood,” Morsch said. “It’s not like people are driving vast distances to come to our pantry. They are coming from this neighborhood and the new construction will be sure to fit into the neighborhood’s character. This is going to be a vast improvement to what’s already there. I’m really pleased with the whole thing. Saint Stephen’s is really a great asset to the community.”

The school was honored Wednesday night in an unrelated matter by Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan, who presented a plaque to Head of School Janet Pullen. The school opened its doors during Hurricane Irma to the families of emergency responders.

“They really stepped up,” said Bevan. “It made it so much easier on our first responders to do their jobs during the storm knowing that their families were in a safe place. We really appreciate them.”

This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Saint Stephen’s to build new performing arts center."