An Early History of our Parish

by Edyth Morris

It was All Saints Day, November First, in the year 1912 that a group of eight women started a guild in order to form an Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale. The first regular service of All Saints mission was held on December 29, 1912. Originally, these services were held in homes and halls. Through their efforts, which included such things as Victrola concerts, travel talks, and autographed quilts, a piece of property was purchased at the end of their first year.

The first resident priest was the Rev. John Oliphant, who came in February of 1914. The Rev. Robert Tracy succeeded him a year later, and served the mission for 13 years. During this time, an unused church building in Jupiter, FL, was given to All Saints Mission . This building was taken down and shipped by rail to Fort Lauderdale , a 60 mile trip. It was then assembled on the downtown site which had been bought by the guild (now the city parking garage). The building was improved upon: the sanctuary was enlarged, trancepts (side wings) were added, and a small parish house was built. This building was sturdy enough to withstand any serious damage in the frightful 1926 hurricane. Only the stained glass windows were shattered.  

In 1931, the Rev. Harold Bache succeeded the Rev. Mr. Tracy. He came directly from Suwanee Seminary and was ordained priest while in charge of All Saints. He also saw All Saints Mission become a parish in 1938. From that time on, we have been a self-supporting, self-sufficient congregation.

On Sunday, November 14, 1943 , the Rev. John K. Coolidge was instituted as rector of this parish by Bishop Wing. The Rev. Mark Carpenter became rector in September of 1948. Subsequently, the downtown property was sold and the present Tarpon Drive site was purchased. The cornerstone for the new building was laid in 1949. It was on Christmas Eve 1951 that the congregation marched with candles from the old site to the newly completed church building. The parish hall was completed a year later. Also during this period, All Saints was responsible for beginning the missions of St. Mark the Evangelist in Oakland Park and St. Martin in the Field in Pompano.

The Rev. Samuel Fleming became our rector in December 1953. All Saints continued to grow and, as more Episcopalians kept coming into this fast growing area, the Vestry with Fr. Fleming decided to expand the Episcopal Church rather than the parish. Thus began the missions of St. Ambrose and Church of the Intercession. All Saints also assisted St. Ambrose in starting St. Benedict Mission in Plantation. Again on All Saints Day in 1958, the mortgage on the present building was burned and Bishop Louttit consecrated our church.

Canon William Brace became rector in 1962. Fr. Harry Douglas became rector in 1981. All Saints has since become a center for conferences throughout the deanery. These recent stories are better known by more people and so they will be saved for another telling.

Here ends Ms. Morris's history, which was witten in the early 1980's. Look for more recent history to be added to this page soon.