Our History

THE EARLY YEARS

In 1837, the Reverend Algernon Hollister, then rector of St. John’s in nearby Troy, visited Pontiac. He saw the need for a mission to this village of 1,000 inhabitants. He was instrumental in founding the parish that was first called Zion Church. On Sunday, September 24, 1837, the first liturgy was celebrated with 16 persons receiving the Eucharist. At this time, meetings were held in private homes. The Reverend Hollister later wrote, “I have seldom known a parish on its first organization so promising, and I trust in the Lord that before many years it may become an able and efficient parish.” The new congregation lived up to its early promise. In 1841, a wooden church structure was built at the corner of Williams and Pike Streets. In 1854, a new stone church replaced it. However, a period of small congregations and short rectorates ensued.

In 1881, the coming of the Reverend Lawrence Stevens brought a dramatic change that revived the parish. Of him was said, “Never was he known to turn anyone from his door who came in want or penury; he was ever ready to go to those in sickness and sorrow.” In 1904, the congregation voted to rename the parish All Saints’ Episcopal Church. The church building was damaged by fire in 1905 and by 1907, the new structure featuring semi-Gothic architecture had been completed. The adjacent rectory, now used by the All Saints’ Resale Shop, was constructed in 1914.

THE REVEREND BATES BURT MINISTRY AND THE BURT FAMILY CAROLS

In 1922, All Saints’ called the Reverend Bates Burt to serve as its rector. The congregation had grown to 200 families. Reverend Burt guided All Saints’ for the next 25 years. When Stevens Hall was added to the campus in 1927, it was his vision that included an auditorium and gymnasium for community use. During the Great Depression, many people, in need, found food and other assistance at All Saints’.

Reverend Bates and his son Alfred were accomplished musicians. For many years, they and Miss Wilha Hutson, the church organist, composed a series of Christmas carols individually or in collaboration. Many of these carols were published and are now famous as the “Burt Carols”. They continue in the repertoire of countless church choirs and have been recorded by a number of famous singers. In their timeless beauty, they possess a gentle quality. The rectorate of the Reverend Burt is known as the beginning of the All Saints’ legacy of fine music.

THE 1948 FIRE

The day after Christmas in 1948, the church building suffered a most devastating fire. The Reverend Ivol Curtis, who had just succeeded Reverend Burt, continued to hold services in Stevens Hall, until the church was rebuilt and consecrated in 1951. All Saints’ was restored in the English Gothic architectural style. In 1958, a new Aeolian-Skinner organ was installed, then one of the finest instruments in Michigan.

ALL SAINTS’ WEATHERS THE STORM OF SOCIAL CHANGE

The Reverend George Widdifield led the congregation for a 20-year period beginning in 1953, a time of great social change. In Pontiac, during the latter part of his tenure, mandatory school integration began and the city government enacted the Fair Housing Covenant. Many of the city’s mainline congregations began to relocate out of the city. All Saints’ was determined to remain in Pontiac, as witness to our commitment to social justice. Presently, we believe it more important than ever that this is where we belong, dedicated to the community where God first set us.

The Reverend Roger Derby succeeded Reverend Widdifield in 1974. Unafraid of the fear and racial tension afflicting the city, he encouraged All Saints’ to stay the course of the social gospel. His steadfast hand during a time of crushing internal and external forces assured the continued existence of All Saints’ in Pontiac. During his tenure, the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary.

BISHOP CATHERINE WAYNICK’S MINISTRY

The Reverend Catherine Waynick was called to All Saints’ in 1993. A successful capital campaign was launched to rebuild the endowment. Additional community outreach was stimulated with the formation of the Bound Together program. Monthly healing services and Lay Eucharistic communion visits to homebound parishioners began. Indianapolis called Reverend Waynick to be Bishop in 1997. All Saints’ was proud of this calling, but was disappointed that the stay of this dynamic preacher, teacher and pastor was so short.

REVEREND ROBERT L. HART’S MINISTRY

Our 23rd rector, the Reverend Robert L. Hart, joined us in January 1999. Thanks in large part to a gift from the Furlong estate, All Saints’ began a new capital campaign to expand accessibility to the building. An addition of a three-story elevator made all levels and spaces of this historic building within reach of all parishioners and visitors. The pew systems were also rearranged to allow wheelchair seating. The entire campus is now barrier free. Restoration was done to reinstall areas to the original 1920’s design. On June 24, 2007, the mortgage for this reconstruction was burned.

To celebrate Black History Month on an on-going basis, an oral history project spanning June, 2001 to February, 2002 recorded the life experiences of five of All Saints’ parishioners. These inspiring stories continue to be shared with organizations and individuals, bolstering a history that is, many times, not told.

Reverend Hart led us to rethink how we fund our mission He retired in 2007.

REVEREND KAREN JOHANNS’ MINISTRY

Reverend Johanns was called to All Saints’ in 2008. Her dynamic personality began a reinvigoration of the church as a place to serve the surrounding community. This resulted in the opening of the Resale Shop, the Produce Market, the Book Nook and the Community Breakfast, held every Saturday morning. All of these serve the community at large. Sadly, All Saints’ lost this energetic lady to cancer in 2015 at the age of 56. The congregation is positive she is organizing something in the heavenly realm.

REVEREND CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON

Reverend Johnson joined All Saints’ in 2017 and is our current rector. He began the process of updating our current ministries, liturgies and expanding outreach. A new broadcasting system connected the church to the outside world through the outlets Zoom, Facebook and You Tube. It went online in 2019. This expanded outreach to our homebound parishioners as well as all interested in worship with the church. Fortunately, the system was in place when the world closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing services to continue. The church was shuttered from March, 2020 to March, 2021. At that time the service originated from Reverend Johnson’s home.

A limited church worship, with only the clergy and assistants present, began in March, 2021, with congregational services restarting in July, 2021.

The parish began the process of reinstituting the ministries, with community breakfast and the resale shop now fully functional. With the doors open, the church campus has seen an increase in activity with a number of organizations now using the facility. The site has expanded into the community center it was always meant to be, when the auditorium and gymnasium were first added. The future lies before us with all of its uncertainties and wonderful surprises.

The real history of All Saints’ is told in the ways that God’s grace has sustained and continues to call us to strive for greater faithfulness. May we hear the call and respond with enthusiasm.