The first service of Holy Spirit Anglican Church was held June 6, 2004 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Cody Road. For months prior to this, prayerful options were sought to respond to the acceleration of unbiblical trends in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. By May of 2004, the decision was made to form an Anglican congregation faithful to Scripture and Anglican tradition. The first rector (senior pastor) of the church was the Reverend Mike Napoli. Initially our church called itself “Mobile Anglican Community,” and several names were considered before settling on Holy Spirit Anglican Church.
An early document, dated March 21, 2004 gives this self-understanding of the church: “Endeavor to be a community of the living presence of Christ Jesus – a place where He can be encountered – a community marked by our singular devotion to Him and an openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit.”
Initially, our new church was affiliated with the Anglican Province of America. The initial Vestry members were Rudy Boutwell (Senior Warden), Beverly Whatley (Clerk), Phyllis Dunn, Ronald Noland, Anita Sirmon, and Eyston Hunte.
During Father Napoli’s leadership, property was purchased on Leroy Stevens Road on November 30, 2005. On July 23, 2008, ground was broken for our current building.
Father Mike Napoli retired as rector at the end of 2008. On January 1, 2009, the Reverend Alan Armstrong became interim rector. A prayer service was held at the new church March 14, 2009. The first worship service was held in the new building March 15, 2009. The ministry of Father Mike Napoli was celebrated in a special service March 28 of that year. Father Alan served as interim rector until June of 2009. On July 1, 2009, Father Chris Goers became the 2nd rector of Holy Spirit Church.
On September 8, 2009, our founding priest, the Reverend Mike Napoli (pictured left) ended a six-year battle with cancer and entered the presence of our Lord. Father Mike is remembered by a plaque in Napoli Hall with his life motto, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” The work of God through Father Mike continues in the lives of the many people God touched through him.
In June of 2009, our church was still ministering under the covering of the Anglican Province of America. At that time, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) was formed at a convocation in Plano, Texas. The goal of the ACNA was to bring together a growing coalition of faithful Anglicans to bear witness to Christ within the Anglican expression of the faith. Under the leadership of Father Chris Goers, Holy Spirit Church joined the ACNA early in 2010 and the Gulf Atlantic Diocese in 2011. Bishop Neil Lebhar of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese has been a blessing to our church through the years.
Father Goers served as rector until December of 2012. In early 2013, Father Alan Armstrong was once again called to serve as rector, and he served HSAC until April of 2018.
The people of our congregation are heavily involved in many forms of outreach. We share significant support with community ministries that feed, clothe and share comfort and Christ with our fellow citizens of the Mobile area and the world.
Our current rector, Father Frank Busbey, began his ministry at HSAC in October of 2018. Father Frank is leading HSAC to deepen its involvement in ministry and to deepen its roots of faith.
God’s faithfulness to us in the past emboldens us to trust Him for a bold, dynamic and fruitful ministry going forward, sharing the ancient Christian faith with our modern world. At the heart of our congregation is the continued desire “to be a community of the living presence of Christ Jesus – a place where He can be encountered – a community marked by our singular devotion to Him and an openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit.”
As well spoken in another founding document: “We commit ourselves to:
- draw others to salvation and new life in Jesus Christ,
- be a loving community with Scripture as our primary authority and guide, and
- pass on to future generations the same Truth graciously given to us.”
