In October 1990, the Diocese of Indianapolis approved the formation of a new church in Fishers. The diocese selected Fishers because of the community’s rapid population growth and because no other Episcopal church was nearby.
The diocese called the Rev. Jeffrey Lee as the planter/developer.
During these early years, members of the congregation met in Lee’s home, the basement of a bank, the Hamilton Southeastern Middle School gymnasium and in leased office space. The first “official” service of the new church was held on Dec. 8, 1991, in the middle school gymnasium.
In the spring of 1994, Holy Family launched a capital campaign for construction of a church building, and the Rev. Lee accepted a call to another parish.
In October 1994, Holy Family extended a call to the Rev. Portia Hirschman to serve as its vicar.
Groundbreaking on Holy Family’s building took place in March 1995, and the first service was held in the new building on Oct. 28, 1995.
In addition to overseeing construction of the church building, the Rev. Hirschman oversaw Holy Family’s transition from a family-size to a pastoral-size congregation. In November 2000, Holy Family was selected by the Indianapolis Center for Congregations to participate in a consultancy with the Rev. Alice Mann, a nationally recognized church-growth consultant. Based on recommendations of the Alice Mann study team, Holy Family added part-time staff, including an administrative assistant and a director of Children’s Ministries, in anticipation of another transition, from a pastoral-size to a program-size congregation.
After accepting a call to serve another congregation, the Rev. Hirschman resigned as Holy Family’s vicar in April 2002.
Holy Family called the Rev. Kristina Maulden as its vicar in May 2003. During Pastor Kristi’s tenure, Holy Family established a preschool program, new programs for youth, purchased an organ, and enhanced its worship space with a raised chancel and purchased Stations of the Cross. Pastor Kristi resigned effective Dec. 31, 2006, to accept a call to serve another congregation.
In July of 2007, The Reverend Michael Galvin came to Holy Family as our new Vicar. During Father Mike’s tenure, we have seen the size of this congregation nearly double in membership. He helped us to emerge from “mission status” (a congregation receiving financial support from the diocese to meet its operating budget), to become a financially stable and fully autonomous parish of the Diocese of Indianapolis. Father Mike helped us to build one of the largest and most successful children and youth ministry programs in the diocese. He led us to a new vision, “To be the Good News of Jesus Christ in our community.” To this end, we have become a missional and outwardly-focused congregation with over 15 outreach programs as diverse as; building an Episcopal School in a small village in Haiti, a prison ministry, a community garden providing fresh vegetables to local food pantries, and support of two homeless shelters, among others.
In December of 2012, Holy Family was blessed to add the Reverend Cathy Scott to our staff as a vocational deacon. As part of Reverend Scott’s diaconal ministry, she is responsible for “bringing the needs of the community to the doors of the church.” Deacon Cathy will help us to maintain our outward focus, and assist us in identifying community needs and opportunities to serve as the heart and hands of Jesus.
In January of 2017, The Reverend Michael Galvin retired from Holy Family. We are grateful for his time and dedication over the last decade. Following Father Mike’s retirement, we entered into the search process to call a new rector and were blessed to work with a variety of visiting clergy from our Diocese. In October 2017, The Reverend Lawrence R. Walters came to Holy Family to see us through the final five months of our transition. The congregation enjoyed getting to know Father Larry and looks forward to continued friendship and ministry.
In February 2018 Holy Family’s rector search committee presented a recommendation to the vestry. Following prayerful discussion, the vestry voted to call the Reverend Bruce W. Gray as Holy Family’s next rector. Father Bruce’s first Sunday at Holy Family was March 25, 2018. Father Bruce brings with him many years of experience as a parish priest as well as serving for nine years as Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis.
In November 2020, Deacon Cathy accepted a call to serve as Deacon at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.
After nearly forty years of ministry as an Episcopal priest and seven as rector of Holy Family, Father Bruce is retiring on Sunday, February 2nd. For more information about celebrating the ministries of Bruce and Cathy as well as the transition towards Holy Family’s next priest, keep an eye on the newsletter, bulletin, and Sunday worship announcements.
