History of All Saints' Church
All Saints' Episcopal Church, located at the corner of 7th Avenue and 7th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn was founded in 1867.
On August 4, 1867, 20 families celebrated the Holy Communion in the Military Hall, on Fifth Ave. at the corner of 9th Street, under the leadership of Arthur Sinclair, the first Warden. On September 16, 1867 members voted to incorporate the church as All Saints' Church, and elected a warden and vestry. On Christmas Day, 1867 the Reverend William D’Orville Doty was appointed the first Rector of All Saints'. A search committee was then elected to find a suitable spot for our church. After visits to several sites, a generous offer was given by Mr. Isaac Henderson, Esq. in April 1869 and the present property was purchased. In June, the red brick chapel on 7th Street (now occupied by a Seventh Day Adventist congregation) had begun; the cornerstone of this chapel was the first to be laid in the new diocese of Long Island and the first by Primal Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Abram Newkirk Littlejohn D.D. Easter Sunday, April 17, 1870 was the opening of All Saints' Chapel. The stained glass window in the current side chapel comes from the older building.
There were hardships in the early years but despite all that the church pressed on with the construction of the current edifice on 7th Avenue . In 1881, the West Aisle was built and, in the following year a corresponding East Aisle. In 1886, a Baptistery, Choir Room and Chancel stalls were erected and the front was extended toward 7th Avenue with three entrance doors and steps of brownstone. At a simple ceremony on April 12, 1992 , Master Melville Boyd, Jr, the Rector’s son, turned the first spade of earth and at 4 pm on Wednesday June 22, 1892 the cornerstone was laid by the Diocesan Bishop. The current church building, is yellow brick and terracotta Romanesque-Moorish basilica with two distinctive towers, a bright barrel vaulted interior with ornate terracotta detailing, and many stained glass windows, including one by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
The mortgage was burned on November 2, 1924 and the building was re-consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Frederick Burgess, D.D. As the years went by the church, rectory, undercroft and finally the parish hall and gymnasium were constructed. The church suffered a fire in 1976, which required the re- creation of some of the interior and east front, and replacement of much of the stained glass there. The current organ was also installed in the 1970s.
The Reverend William Lester began his 28-year tenure as the twelfth Rector of All Saints' in 1965. During this time many new organizations and ministries were commenced in the church, including Sunday School and our intercessory prayer and worship ministries which continue to this day. The Park Slope Center for Successful Aging is a weekday tenant of our Undercroft and several community 12-step ministries meet in the Church. Fr. Lester’s retirement in 1993 was followed by the rectorships of the Reverends Dale Lumley and David Miracle alternating with Interim ministries, of the Rt. Rev. Theophilus Annobil and then of the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Henry and the Rev. James Manning. From November 2008 to June 2011 the parish was served by a long-term supply priest, Fr. Joseph Moise.
The Reverend Steven Paulikas began his service at All Saints' in June 2011 and and was instituted as the fifteenth Rector of the parish on December 14, 2013. By grace, we continue to thrive in Park Slope and are enjoying a period of renewal in ministry. As our reach into the community expands, we will continue to be guided by our tradition of steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, in whom we are made one Body with those who have come before us and those who will come after.
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For a deeper dive into the history of All Saints' Church, you can now read our 150th Anniversary History document, "No Longer Strangers" online.
On August 4, 1867, 20 families celebrated the Holy Communion in the Military Hall, on Fifth Ave. at the corner of 9th Street, under the leadership of Arthur Sinclair, the first Warden. On September 16, 1867 members voted to incorporate the church as All Saints' Church, and elected a warden and vestry. On Christmas Day, 1867 the Reverend William D’Orville Doty was appointed the first Rector of All Saints'. A search committee was then elected to find a suitable spot for our church. After visits to several sites, a generous offer was given by Mr. Isaac Henderson, Esq. in April 1869 and the present property was purchased. In June, the red brick chapel on 7th Street (now occupied by a Seventh Day Adventist congregation) had begun; the cornerstone of this chapel was the first to be laid in the new diocese of Long Island and the first by Primal Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Abram Newkirk Littlejohn D.D. Easter Sunday, April 17, 1870 was the opening of All Saints' Chapel. The stained glass window in the current side chapel comes from the older building.
There were hardships in the early years but despite all that the church pressed on with the construction of the current edifice on 7th Avenue . In 1881, the West Aisle was built and, in the following year a corresponding East Aisle. In 1886, a Baptistery, Choir Room and Chancel stalls were erected and the front was extended toward 7th Avenue with three entrance doors and steps of brownstone. At a simple ceremony on April 12, 1992 , Master Melville Boyd, Jr, the Rector’s son, turned the first spade of earth and at 4 pm on Wednesday June 22, 1892 the cornerstone was laid by the Diocesan Bishop. The current church building, is yellow brick and terracotta Romanesque-Moorish basilica with two distinctive towers, a bright barrel vaulted interior with ornate terracotta detailing, and many stained glass windows, including one by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
The mortgage was burned on November 2, 1924 and the building was re-consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Frederick Burgess, D.D. As the years went by the church, rectory, undercroft and finally the parish hall and gymnasium were constructed. The church suffered a fire in 1976, which required the re- creation of some of the interior and east front, and replacement of much of the stained glass there. The current organ was also installed in the 1970s.
The Reverend William Lester began his 28-year tenure as the twelfth Rector of All Saints' in 1965. During this time many new organizations and ministries were commenced in the church, including Sunday School and our intercessory prayer and worship ministries which continue to this day. The Park Slope Center for Successful Aging is a weekday tenant of our Undercroft and several community 12-step ministries meet in the Church. Fr. Lester’s retirement in 1993 was followed by the rectorships of the Reverends Dale Lumley and David Miracle alternating with Interim ministries, of the Rt. Rev. Theophilus Annobil and then of the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Henry and the Rev. James Manning. From November 2008 to June 2011 the parish was served by a long-term supply priest, Fr. Joseph Moise.
The Reverend Steven Paulikas began his service at All Saints' in June 2011 and and was instituted as the fifteenth Rector of the parish on December 14, 2013. By grace, we continue to thrive in Park Slope and are enjoying a period of renewal in ministry. As our reach into the community expands, we will continue to be guided by our tradition of steadfast faith in Jesus Christ, in whom we are made one Body with those who have come before us and those who will come after.
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For a deeper dive into the history of All Saints' Church, you can now read our 150th Anniversary History document, "No Longer Strangers" online.