All Saints' Anglican Cathedral, Edmonton

All Saints' Anglican Cathedral is the cathedral serving the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton, which covers central Alberta. It serves as the episcopal seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, currently Jane Alexander.

Building

The current building is located at 10035 103 Street in downtown Edmonton, half a block south of Jasper Avenue. The current building was dedicated on May 10, 1956.

The building is joined with a seniors' residence called Cathedral Close via an atrium. The synod offices of the diocese and those of the cathedral located on the second floor and are access via the atrium which acts as the parish hall.

The cathedral has a level entry, making it accessible to the physical handicapped and seniors without need for any ramps or elevators.

History

The Parish of All Saints' was founded in 1875 by William Newton, the first known Anglican missionary to the Edmonton area. He arrived in Edmonton September 28, 1875 having left Ontario in the spring.^[1] The parish first meet in a log cabin at the corner of what is now Jasper Avenue and 121 Street.^[2]

By 1895 the parish had grown considerably and required a new building. A new church was constructed on 103rd Street near the present site, however construction was only half completed due to lack of funds. In 1905 the church went through considerable renovations completing the original building plans.^[2]

In 1914 the new installed Bishop of Edmonton, H. A. Gray, named All Saints' as the pro-cathedral of the diocese. On December 20, 1919, a fire broke out and destroyed the church leaving only the outside walls intact. The pro-cathedral was rebuilt on the same site.^[2]

The present building was completed in 1956, after tearing down the structure built in 1921, and was finally given the permanent status of cathedral. The parish hall to the north, which predated the current Cathedral, was demolished in 1973 with Cathedral Close, with the senior's complex and synod office building eventually being built in its place.

Present

The cathedral serves as the seat of the Bishop of Edmonton, Jane Alexander, who was installed on May 11, 2008, the Feast of Pentecost. She had previously served as the dean and rector of All Saints' until her consecration as bishop.

Neil Gordon is the present dean, having been installed on June 27, 2010, during the translated Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Gordon has previously served throughout the Diocese of Edmonton in several parishes, including having also served as a rural dean. In 2012 he celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his Priestly ordination. He is currently assisted by Christian Gordon who is the Vicar of the Cathedral and of no relation to Neil Gordon.

Travis Enright presently holds the position of Canon Missioner, having previously been both the vicar and the curate. Enright has been highly involved in both the diocesan liaison work with the Aboriginal community of Edmonton and within the Anglican Church of Canada. Enright, who is of Plains Cree descent, is also a regular celebrant of a unique rite called Standing Stones, which involves a mixture of Aboriginal spirituality and Anglicanism into a eucharistic service. He was installed as Canon Missioner of the diocese on October 3, 2010. Enright primarily serves as the Rector of the Parish of St. Faith's.

All Saints' is host to a congregation of immigrants from South Sudan under Akon Akon. This congregation conducts their services in Dinka rather than English. Akon's honorary assistant status with All Saints' is unique he is not a retired priest.

All Saints' has one vocational deacon, six honorary assistants (five of who are retired). As well, several retired clergy attend All Saints' whom do not have honorary assistant status.

Past staff

The following is a list of the rectors and deans of All Saints.

Rectors of All Saints'

• Charles Cunningham, 1891–1893
• Alfred Studen, 1893–1896
• Henry A. Gray, 1896–1914

  Archdeacon of Edmonton in the Diocese of Calgary. Later elected 1st Bishop of Edmonton.

• George H. Webb, 1914–1918
• E. Pierce-Goulding, 1918–1937
• T. E. Rowe, 1937–1939
• I. D. Bachelor, 1939-1940 (acting)

Deans of Edmonton and Rectors of All Saints'

In 1945 the office of Dean was created.

• Alick McDonald Trendell, 1940–1950
• J. Grant Sparling, 1950–1956
• Gerald Burch, 1956–1960 (later elected 5th Bishop of Edmonton 1962)
• Thomas W. Teape, 1960–1965
• Morse Goodman, 1965–1967 (afterwards Bishop of Calgary, 1968)
• Ron Shepherd, ?1968–1969 (afterwards Dean of Montreal, 1969 and then Bishop of British Columbia, 1985)
• Randal E. Ivany, 1970–1974
• James Brown, 1974–1981
• Harry Dawson, 1981–1989
• Harold T. Munn, 1989–1998
• Greg Kerr-Wilson, 1998–2006 (later 11th Bishop of Qu'Appelle and 9th Bishop of Calgary).
• Jane Alexander, 2006–2008 (later 10th Bishop of Edmonton)
• Lee Bezanson, 2008–2010
• Neil Gordon, 2010-present

Services

Sunday

• 8:00 am - Said Eucharist - Book of Common Prayer
• 9:15 am - Sung Eucharist - Book of Alternative Services
• 11:00 am - Choral Eucharist - Book of Alternative Services
• 2:00 pm - Dinka Language Service
• 7:00 pm - Evensong (First Sunday of the Month)
• 7:00 pm - Taizé (Third Sunday of the Month)

Weekday

• 8:30 am - Morning Prayer (Tuesday - Friday)
• 12:10 pm - Holy Eucharist (Thursday)

References