All Saints Episcopal Church (Chicago)

All Saints Episcopal Church

All Saints Episcopal Church
Basic information
Location 4550 North Hermitage Avenue
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Geographic coordinates 41°57′54″N 87°40′22″W / 41.96500°N 87.67278°W / 41.96500; -87.67278Coordinates: 41°57′54″N 87°40′22″W / 41.96500°N 87.67278°W / 41.96500; -87.67278
Affiliation Episcopal Church (United States)
State Chicago
Province 5
Region United States
Country United States of America
Status Active
Leadership Bonnie Perry, Rector
Website http://www.allsaintschicago.org/
Architectural description
Architect(s) John C. Cochrane[1]
Architectural style Stick style
Completed 1883
Specifications
Capacity ~200
Spire(s) 1

All Saints Episcopal Church (or All Saints) is a church of the Episcopal Church of the United States at 4550 North Hermitage Avenue in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1883, the structure was declared a Chicago Landmark in 1982.[2] All Saints is currently an active church, and is most well known for its community outreach programs that include a food pantry and events that attract all members of its neighborhood.[3]

History

The church was designed by architect John C. Cochrane and built in 1883 at the corner of Wilson and Hermitage Avenues. Previously, the congregation gathered in a nearby Methodist church.[4] The building was created in stick style as shown by the use of vertical beams and decorative shingles and continues to be a rare example of stick style architecture in the city,[2] in addition to being Chicago's oldest wood-frame church.[5][6] Wood was likely used because other available materials, such as stone, were too expensive.[7] Furthermore, the church's location was outside of Chicago's city limits, where wood construction was not permitted after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.[7] The stained glass windows were originally designed by the Healy & Millet firm.[8] John Hulla designed the adjoining rectory in 1905 in a Tudor Revival style. The congregation intended to demolish and replace the sanctuary in the early 1900s, however the Great Depression stalled their plan.

The church community flourished through the 1950s but in 1960, attendance began to dwindle and by 1992, the church was in danger of being shuttered.[5] despite being declared a city landmark only ten-years earlier.[2] At that time, the congregation's membership was reported to be only about 30,[6] but increased interest and attendance since 1992 prevented the closure of the church.[2] The church's attendance has continued to grow, and some sources have noted that All Saints could be considered the "fastest growing Episcopal congregation in Chicago."[9][10] In 1992, a renovation plan for the church began and was completed in 2016 with a $2 million renovation plan to address structural issues with the church and restore its exterior design.[7]

All Saints Episcopal Church in early 20th century

The church was recognized with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award in 2017.[7][11]

Church and community services

The church offers several morning services on Sundays which either follow a low church or broad church format.[12] In addition, the church partners with Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) to provide outreach and aid to disadvantaged members of the community.[13] The church kitchen operates a weekly food pantry with the help of volunteers from both RCS and the congregation, and has sometimes catered to as many as 400 individuals in one night.[14]

Special events

All Saints has been noted for some events that deviate from typical Sunday services. One such special service in the Fall is an annual pet blessing, where members of the congregation are invited to bring their pets to church to receive blessings.[15] In 2010, the service included 74 dogs, 13 cats, one rabbit, one lizard, and several other animals.[16] The Day of the Dead is celebrated along with All Saints' Day in a single service. A New Orleans-style brass band is invited to process into the church and accompanies the choir during this service.[17]

Vandalism

On September 21, 2009, the sanctuary of All Saints flooded due to vandals who broke a stained glass window and fed a running hose through the opening. Workers discovered the hose on Saturday morning and believed it was running for several hours.[18] Because the sanctuary floor was wooden planks, water seeped through causing damage in the basement, but did not cause compromise the structureal integrity of the building, nor did it interfere regularly-scheduled worship services.[19] 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."[20] Others, however, believe that the vandalism was a basic prank.[18]

References in literature

Poet Carl Sandburg was believed to be one of early congregants of All Saints.[5] One of his poems, entitled Onion Days, describes a produce seller named Jasper in the following manner:[21]

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, as it was the only Episcopal church in Ravenswood.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "All Saints' Episcopal Church". ExploreChicago. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "All Saints Church and Rectory". City of Chicago. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  3. ↑ "About Us". All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  4. ↑ "History". All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "Aid in the Restoration of a Chicago Landmark". Chicago Real Estate Forum. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  6. 1 2 Johnson, Rob (23 September 2011). "Your Chicago: All Saints Episcopal Church". CBS Chicago. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Kamin, Blair (5 August 2017). "Restoration of church, apartment complex reveal value of neighborhood architectural gems". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. ↑ "Preservation Heritage Fund Grants: Northeast". http://www.landmarks.org/heritage_fund_recipients_northeast.htm. Landmarks Illinois. Retrieved 14 September 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  9. ↑ Brachear, Manya A. (6 May 2006). "Rev. Bonnie Perry: Pastor Doesn’t Shy From Call". Chicago Tribune. ChicagoTribune.com. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  10. ↑ Brachear, Manya A. (7 May 2006). "All Saints keeps its pastor; She won't be bishop, but she's glad to stay". Chicago Tribune. All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  11. ↑ "2017 Award Winners Landmarks Illinois". Landmarks Illinois. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  12. ↑ "Overview of Sunday Services". All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  13. ↑ Warren, James (19 November 2009). "Outside a World of Wealth Stands the Reality of Hunger". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  14. ↑ Warren, James (23 September 2011). "Hunger in America, Visible if You Look for It". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  15. ↑ Jeffers, Glenn (4 October 2004). "Parishioners' Pets are Blessed". Chicago Tribune. All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  16. ↑ Rickard, Jane (5 October 2010). "Pet Blessing at All Saints Episcopal". The Welles Park Bulldog. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  17. ↑ "Music". All Saints' Episcopal Church. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  18. 1 2 Warren, James (26 November 2009). "Vandalism at Food Pantry Shows Best and Worst of People". The New York Times. NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  19. ↑ Orichuia, Nicola (24 November 2009). "Vandals Flood Ravenswood Church With a Hose". NBC Chicago. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  20. ↑ "Cops investigate damage to Ravenswood church". Chicago Tribune. ChicagoBreakingNews.com. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  21. ↑ Sandburg, Carl (April 1916). Chicago Poems. Henry Holt and Company. p. 28. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  22. ↑ Holden, Greg (2001). Literary Chicago: a book lover's tour of the Windy City. Chicago: Lake Claremont Press. p. 152. ISBN 1-893121-01-1. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
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