Fight to save Miami’s oldest church

St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Coconut Grove is the epicenter of a preservationist fight to salve its 1912-vintage Mission style chapel. The church wants to replace it with new classrooms and a commercial retail building, but preservationists didn’t realize the old chapel would be part of its renovations. Architect Melissa Meyer, a 12-year St. Stephen’s member who said congregation leaders discarded her blueprint to preserve at least the most important portions of the church, has joined the preservationists, though demolition appears likely.