A BRIEF HISTORY OF ALL SAINTS

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Russellville, Arkansas has a cornerstone- the Cornerstone of Christ, but also a physical cornerstone moved over many years to the current church building.

As fourth Missionary Bishop of Arkansas, a jurisdiction that included the Indian Territories, Henry Niles Pierce visited Russellville several times between 1870 and his death in 1899 to hold Episcopal services in the Methodist Church building. This quiet beginning grew little by little into the All Saints Episcopal Church of today.

Church records indicate that a mission congregation with the name of All Saints petitioned and received admission into union with the Diocese of Arkansas in 1917. The mission existed only a few years and in 1923 they sold their building to the Lutheran Congregation, who later sold it to the Baptist.

It is recorded that in 1942 the mission congregation was holding regular services, averaging five to ten attendees under the ministry of The Reverend George W. Culleny. During this time Bishop Richard Bland Mitchell visited three times and confirmed three people.

In the late 1940's The Reverend John Maury Allin, then Vicar of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Conway,Arkansas later being elected The Presiding Bishop of the Epicsopal Church of the United States held services in private homes in Russellville.

In September of 1954, the Russellvile Episcopalians had enough members to consider reorganization of the mission. Discussions led to a formal meeting and Communion Service with Bishop Mitchell and The Reverend Charles Hoglan of Conway. Eight communicants and four children were present. Father Hoglan agreed to hold services in Russellville every other Sunday.

Fifteen communicants who are considered the founders of the present church held an official organizational meeting march 18, 1955. On May 5 of that year, the 83rd General Convention once again admitted All Saints mission into union with the Diocese of Arkansas. These “faithful 15" held services every Sunday in private homes until All Saints Day, 1955 when they found a room they informally christened “All Saints Chapel” in the Red Hill Building on the campus of Arkansas Tech University.

Ground was broken for a new building at the corner of East 18th and South Detroit Avenue on May 27, 1958. The Baptist graciuosly returned the cornerstone from the 1917 building and Bishop Robert R. Brown dedicated the new church September 14 of that year. It was 10 years before the congregation was able to sit in pews instead of folding chairs, but growth was steady. By 1975, the church had grown to 200 communicants, with an adjacent parish house, paved parking lot, and organ and space for an office, nursery, and classrooms.

The Reverend Jack Shoemaker led All Saints from mission to parish status in early 1976.

Over the next several years, under the guidance of the Reverend Pat Murray and the Reverend Greg Riley, All Saints continued to flourish. In 1989, under the Reverend Alan Sutherland, a fund drive enabled All Saints’ to construct a new church building on Phoenix Avenue, more than tripling available space. Construction began with groundbreaking on October 16, 1990.

The original cornerstone was again moved and set. August 11,1991 the congregation paraded joyously down the streets from the old building to hold services, in our present church. With continued growth came a second fund drive in 1992 for construction of a large parish hall, nursery, classrooms, bathrooms and kitchen.

We have been blessed with the leadership of our Rectors, the Reverend Jack Shoemaker, the Reverend Pat Murray, the Reverend Greg Riley, the Reverend Alan Sutherland, the Reverend Don Brown, the Reverend Walt Friese and the Reverend Evelyn Hornaday, each contributing their special gifts to the growth and well being of All Saints’.

The Reverend Jos Tharakan was installed as Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church August 14, 2007. With his leadership and ministry, he brings his own gifts that will take us to a new phase in our Parish life.

There is a place for you at All Saints, come be a part of us as we continue to make the history of All Saints.