History of All Saints'
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History |
All
Saints' began with a handful of people worshipping in the game room of
the Beverly Hills Hotel. By 1922 the congregation had called The Rev'd
J. Arthur Evans and raised $26,000 to buy three lots and build a church
which opened on Easter Day 1925. This award-winning architectural gem
(by Johnson, Kaufman and Coate) survives as "All Saints'
Chapel."
The congregation continued to grow under the leadership of the Very Rev'd William W. Fleetwood, and, in spite of the Depression, the 100 communicants assumed a $40,000 debt, and All Saints' became a parish in 1930. In 1942, the Rev'd J. Herbert Smith, associate rector of Calvary Church, New York City, was called as second rector. |
The 27 years of Mr. Smith's ministry saw extraordinary growth in All Saints' membership and influence. In 1949 Mr. Smith called the Rev'd Kermit Castellanos as associate rector with special responsibility for children's ministries. Knowing that a larger church building and parish facilities were needed, the parish called Roland Coate, one of the architects of the original church, to develop plans for new buildings. The first scheduled service in the new church was held on Easter Day, 1952.
When Mr. Smith retired in 1969, Mr. Castellanos became third rector of All Saints'. On Mr. Castellanos retirement in 1976, the Rev'd Clarke Oler of Holy Trinity Church, New York City, was called as fourth rector. Under Mr. Oler's leadership, the 1979 Book of Common Prayer was introduced, adult education grew and the now famous All Saints' music program was begun under the direction of Tom Foster.
Mr. Oler's associate, The Rev'd Gregory Richards, was called as All Saints' fifth rector in 1982. All Saints' continued its emphasis on pastoral care and prayer, while growing in educational ministry, family and parenting services and outreach programs. Mr. Richards resigned in 1988 to become Chaplain of Campbell Hall School, Studio City.
In December 1989, The Rev'd Carol Anderson was instituted as sixth rector of All Saints'. Carol was Founder and Director of the Institute for Clergy Renewal and prior to that, Rector of All Angels' Church and Associate at St. James' Church, both in New York City. Once again the parish experienced a "growth spurt", graced by Carol's gifts of preaching, teaching and leadership. Two additional Sunday services were added along with weekday readings of Morning, Noonday and Evening Prayer. Under Carol's leadership there has been an expansion of small group ministry, pastoral care, homeless ministry, ministry to children, youth, families, young adults, women, gay people, and seniors, and the establishment of the internationally used Alpha Course for the teaching of basic Christianity,
and a tape ministry.A decade ago the leadership of the Parish began to address the space, liturgical and infrastructure needs of both the church and parish buildings. The architectural firm of Johnson Fain and Pereira Associates was retained. The renovation of the church was begun on 1 May 1995 and was rededicated on All Saints' Sunday of the same year.
Our history is important as a time line to where we are today. And though one might describe our buildings or setting in Beverly Hills as beautiful, we are a people, not a building. As Anglicans, we are steeped in scripture, reason and tradition. Our faith as a people of God is what has made us All Saints' today. We hope you will be part of this future.