This is Us!

OVER 145 YEARS OF PARISH HISTORY!

All Saints

All Saints
Over the years, All Saints parish had grown to become the oldest African American Episcopal church west of the Mississippi River. It began as a Sunday school in 1874 and shortly afterwards became a mission. In 1883, it officially welcomed its first ordained priest as rector and became All Saints Episcopal Church.

The city grew and expanded, and the church relocated several times to accommodate a growing congregation. For many years services were held in what was lovingly referred to as “the old church” located at Garrison and Locust. In 1957, to be closer to the westward movement of our members, the parish move to Kingshighway Boulevard and Terry Avenue.  Then in 2016, the parish moved to our current location in Northwoods in preparation for the transition and merger with the Episcopal Church of Ascension.

Ascension
In l887, the parish began to grow from a small living room meeting on Cabanne Avenue near Goodfellow where they adopted the name, Ascension. The members raised money, purchased a lot, and constructed a modest frame church at Cates and Goodfellow. The building was consecrated on January 6,1889.

Years later, a larger brick structure was constructed, followed by the erection of a

spacious parish hall. By l927, the parish boasted 500 members.  In l953 Ascension merged with Holy Apostle Episcopal Church. The church soon began to face budgeting challenges and changing demographics. Many members left for other churches. The church building was torn down. By the 1970’s, a mostly African American congregation was established. And a small chapel was erected inside the parish hall by the 1980’s.

The Ascension building was finally condemned in l999. Ascension members held services at West Presbyterian. When St. Andrew’s Church in Northwoods disbanded, an offer was accepted to move to the current location. The first service was conducted on February 8, 2004.

CLICK to learn about The Rev. Renee Fenner, our Rector