All Saints Episcopal Church (Chicago, Illinois)

All Saints Episcopal Church (or All Saints) is a church of the Episcopal Church of the United States in the neighborhood of Ravenswood in Chicago. Built in 1883, it is currently the oldest wood-framed church in the city, and was also declared a Chicago Landmark.^[2] All Saints is currently an active church, and is most well known for its community outreach programs. All Saints has been called the "fastest growing Episcopal congregation in Chicago."

History

The church was designed by architect John Cochrane and built in 1883 at the corners of Wilson and Hermitage Ave. Prior to that time, the congregation gathered in a nearby Methodist church.^[3] The building was created in Stick Style as shown by its visual use of vertical beams and decorative shingles. It continues to be one of the rare examples of Stick Style architecture in the city,^[2] in addition to being Chicago's oldest wooden framed church.^[4][5] In 1905, the adjoining rectory was built by John Hulla in a Tudor style. The building was intended to be demolished in the early 1900s before The Great Depression, but the church community flourished through the 1950s. However, in 1960, attendance began to dwindle. Despite that the church was declared a city landmark in 1982,^[2] by 1992, the church was in danger of being shutdown.^[4] By that time, the congregation was reported to be only about 30 members,^[5] but increased interest and attendance since 1992 prevented the closure of the church.^[2] The church's attendance has continued to increase, and some sources have noted that All Saints could be considered "the "fastest growing Episcopal congregation in Chicago."^[6][7][8]

Church and community services

The church offers several morning services on Sundays which either follow a low church or broad church format.^[9] In addition, the church community works with Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) to provide outreach and aid to disadvantaged members of the community.^[10] A food pantry is run weekly through the church kitchen through the help of volunteers both within RCS and the church congregation, and has sometimes catered to as many as 400 individuals in one night.^[11]

Special events

All Saints has been noted for a few events that deviate from typical Sunday services. One such special service in the Fall is an annual pet blessing, where the congregation is invited to bring their pets to church to receive blessings.^[12][13] In 2010, parishioners brought 74 dogs, 13 cats, one rabbit, one lizard, and several other animals to the service.^[14] The Day of the Dead is celebrated along with All Saints Day in a single service. An New Orleans-style brass band is invited to process into the church and accompanies the choir during this service.^[15]

Vandalism

On September 21, 2009, the sanctuary floor of All Saints was flooded through the use of a hose that was placed inside the church through a broken stained glass window and turned on. The hose was believed to have been left on for several hours.^[16] Because the sanctuary floor was made from floorboards, the water seeped through them and caused some property damage in the basement, but did not cause any major structural damage, nor did it prevent normal church services from being held.^[17] One church official suspected that the damage was due a reaction to an article about All Saints' food pantry services, noting that individuals attending the All Saints food pantry events and the residents of Ravenswood were from economically disparate backgrounds. The article referred to the church as a place that keeps "fellow citizens from drowning."^[18] Others, however, believed that the vandalism was a basic prank.^[16]

References in literature

Poet Carl Sandberg was believed to be one of early congregants of All Saints.^[4] In one of his poems titled "Onion Days," a produce seller named Jasper is described in the following manner:^[19]

Jasper belongs to an Episcopal church in Ravenswood and on certain Sundays

He enjoys chanting the Nicene Creed with his daughters on each side of him joining their voices with his.

Sandberg is thought to be referring to All Saints in this particular passage,^[20] as it was the only Episcopal church that was situated in Ravenswood.

References