The records of Epiphany Church mainly document the history and membership of the church prior to its merging with Church of the Messiah in 1974. It also provides evidence, although scant, of efforts to remain viable and of the disposition of property and memorials when the church was put up for sale. Researchers should note that the Bentley Historical Library also holds the records of the Church of the Messiah (2.5 linear ft., 1875-1988).
"In the summer and fall of 1894, the subject of establishing an Episcopal Mission at some point in the thickly settled and rapidly growing section of the city near the water works was being considered." The first meeting to establish a mission in this Detroit, Michigan neighborhood was held late in that year at the Park Avenue home of George E. Thompson. Sometime in January of 1895, representatives of twenty-four families signed an application to formerly organize a parish. Originally known as Water Works Mission, the name was soon changed to Epiphany Mission, and in the fall of 1895 the "old Rose school house (20 x 80 ft.) ... was purchased for $50 and moved across open fields to a location on Cadillac."
Early in 1899, the Reverend Overton Tarraut was appointed the first missionary in charge of Epiphany. It was during his incumbency that the church moved to what would become a permanent Detroit location at Cadillac and Kercheval.
From 1909 to 1919, population in the area grew quickly and increasing numbers of people took part in activities at the neighborhood church. Soon the need was felt for a new church and parish hall, plans and specifications were prepared, and a lot on the north side of the existing property was purchased for $6,000. By 1924, however, building plans were set aside, and a community center was favored instead. Support for this notion was impressively strong - one hundred-sixty volunteers raised $93,000 in a seven day campaign. Community House of Epiphany Episcopal Church was dedicated on January 22, 1926.
In the late forties and into the sixties, Epiphany experienced negative effects of social change and urban decay, suffering a gradual decline in membership. When H. Irving Mayson was appointed archdeacon in 1970, he proposed a creative solution to pressing problems. The Diocese supported the financing of a black and white team ministry for Epiphany and an adjacent parish, Church of the Messiah.
Early in this ministry, an editor of the Epiphany / Messiah newsletter wrote: "This life-long member of the Church of the Epiphany has been concerned about the future of the parish for a number of years. We have been without a rector. Our black and white communicants are troubled by vandalism of the buildings and thefts from persons and property. Many neighborhood youth are resentful of what they mistakenly call a 'white church' in a black inner-city area. Our tiny, yet faithful congregation is frustrated because we lack funds to finance the salary of a staff whereby we can open up full-time a fine community building for neighborhood use. This would be our symbol of sincerity and a means to best relate to community needs. We still require this funding ... It has been a painful experience to see our feeble efforts at existence lead us toward slow death. I believe the church belongs to the neighborhood and that service along with worship is the way to spread the Good News of the Gospel."
Although faith was temporarily sustained through ties with Messiah, Epiphany never regained its once strong place in the neighborhood. The two churches eventually merged, and the last service was held at Epiphany on November 11, 1973. In 1975 the vestry passed a resolution recommending that Epiphany buildings be sold.
