History: All Saints' Episcopal Church

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 the new Zion Church and 16 persons received the Eucharist. 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 and able and efficient parish."

The new congregation lived up to its early promise. In 1841, it built a wooden church structure 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 it 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 1922, All Saints’ called upon the Reverend Bates Burt to serve as its Rector. The congregation had grown to nearly 200 families. Rev. Burt guided All Saints’ for the next 25 years. When Stevens Hall was added to the parish building in 1927, it was the Rev. Burt’s vision that required it not only be functional as a social hall and space for classrooms, but also include an auditorium and gymnasium for community use. During the dark years of the Great Depression, many people in need found food and other assistance at All Saints’.

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

In 1948, the church building suffered one of three devastating fires in its history. Only the exterior stonewalls were left standing from the 1948 fire. The Reverend Ivol Curtis, who had just succeeded the Reverend Burt, held services in Stevens Hall until the new church was finished in the early 1950s. All Saints’ was restored in the original church’s English Gothic architectural style. In 1958, a new Æolian-Skinner organ was put into use, then and today, one of the finest in Michigan.

The Reverend George Widdifield led the congregation for a 20-year period beginning in 1953, certainly 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’ determined that we would remain in Pontiac, as a witness to our commitment to social justice. In our present time, we think it more important than ever that we are still in this place, dedicated to the community where God first set us.

The Reverend Roger Derby succeeded Reverend Widdifield in 1974. Unafraid of the fear and racial polarization afflicting the city of Pontiac, he encouraged All Saints’ to stay the course of the social gospel. During his rectorate, the parish celebrated its 150th anniversary.

The Reverend Catherine Waynick was called to All Saints’ in 1993. A successful capital campaign was held in 1995 to rebuild the endowment. Additional community outreach was stimulated, including the Bound Together program. Monthly healing services and lay Eucharistic minister communion visits to homebound parishioners were begun. Indianapolis called Rev. Waynick to be Bishop in 1997. All Saints’ was proud of this calling, but disappointed, that the stay of this dynamic preacher, teacher, and pastor was so short.

Our 23rd rector, the Reverend Robert L. Hart, joined us in January of 1999. Thanks in large partto a gift from the Furlong estate, All Saints’ began a new capital campaign and commenced the addition of a three-story elevator. As a result, we not only made all levels and spaces of this historic building accessible, but we also restored some areas to the original 1920's design. Just prior to this time, we made the church pews accessible. We truly are now barrier free. Rev. Hart has led us to rethink how we fund our mission. Rev. Hart wrote once: “Our lodestar summons us on to become not just the old Mother Church for Episcopalians in Oakland County but the engine room of its future mission.” The Rev. Mr. Hart retired June 30, 2007, after 36 years of parish ministry.

The All Saints’ parish was the first firmly established Episcopal parish in Oakland County and the fourth earliest church founded in the Diocese of Michigan. We have helped to establish five neighboring parishes. The first woman was elected to our vestry in 1958, and the first two women clergy associates in this parish served in the early 1990s. Three of our rectors have been elevated to the episcopate - the Reverend Herbert Fox was consecrated bishop of Montana in 1920, the Reverend Ivol Curtis became bishop of Olympia in 1964, and the Reverend Cate Waynick became bishop of Indianapolis in 1997, the seventh woman to serve as a bishop in the Episcopal Church. These are all important accomplishments. However, the real history of the All Saints’ parish is told in the ways that God’s grace has sustained us and continues to call us to strive for greater faithfulness. May we hear the call and respond with enthusiasm!

In recent years, All Saints’ has further established a large outreach program called Bound Together. This involves an after-school tutoring program for local elementary school children, a hot dinner for the kids and their families, social activities, and an arts and enrichment program. Grant funding sustains this program, but volunteer tutors are needed to continue this important ministry. (248-334-3827) The All Saints’ building is used nearly every day and evening of the week by parish groups and programs, support groups, social agencies, and recreational programs.

All Saints’ has been designated a Jubilee Center by the national Episcopal Church. This honor was bestowed because of the direct outreach we carry out through the various components of the Bound Together program and because of the many ties we have to community human service agencies and other helping institutions. In actuality, the whole local community is the Jubilee Center. We are one partner among many.