All Saints Episcopal Church

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All Saints Timeline
1937 - 2007


1937

Rev. Clarence Brickman, rector of St. Paul’s, Lansing, met with Episcopal students at MSC Union; Canterbury Club was organized under the guidance of Dr. Harry Kimber of the history department.

1939-40 
Bishop Herman Page, sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan gave half and, with other gifts, purchased house at 445 Abbott Road and named it St. Augustine of Canterbury.
1940, October 26 
Christ the King Chapel was dedicated, named because the day was the Feast of Christ the King. House served as base for limited ministry to members of St. Paul’s living in East Lansing. St. Elizabeth’s Guild cared for it.
1943  
(From the 1943 edition of the yearbook of Michigan State College.) First meetings of Canterbury Club at MSU were held in the MSU Union under the leadership of Chaplain C. U. Brickman Brotherhood of St. Andrew, fraternity for Episcopalian men students under the directorship of Dr. Ralph L. Guile; Altar Guild of College Women under the direction of Isobel Blyth.
1945 “after WW II”  
Rev. Richard Peterson, part-time chaplain out of St. Paul’s. Lived with wife at Canterbury House, 445 Abbott Rd,. East Lansing.
1946, September 1

Rev. William Clebsch appointed first fulltime chaplain, served three years.

1949, June 13

Rev. William Clebsch resigned to join faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary.

1950, September 1 - June 13  

Services conducted by Rev. Norman Kinzie, MSU faculty member, acting chaplain for a year.

1950, April
St. Paul’s sold original Canterbury House at 445 Abbott Rd. and purchased Sigma Nu fraternity house, 444 Abbott Rd., East Lansing.
1950, September 1
Rev. Gordon M. Jones, Jr.began ministry here as chaplain of Michigan State College and vicar of East Lansing.  As chaplain was accountable to rector of St. Paul’s; administrative functions were in hands of a student vestry with two faculty members as wardens, supervised by a board of directors composed of rector/chaplain and others from St. Paul’s and chapel congregations. Sunday school was established.
1951, March 25

First service was held at  444 Abbott Rd., East Lansing.

1951, June 2  

Chapel dedicated on Whitsunday.

1951, Fall

Conversation began between Rev. Gordon Jones and Rev. George Selway, rector of St. Paul’s concerning establishment of an independent parish. Committee to negotiate was established.

1952, April 6
Meeting held to move toward incorporation, seek union with the Diocese of Michigan as a parish, and assume the total responsibility for the college ministry.
1953, January 11 
Meeting of congregation voted to proceed, elected Bishop’s Committee to become Vestry when incorporated by State of Michigan, and chose name All Saints from 14 names considered.
1953, February 9
"All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church of East Lansing Michigan" was officially incorporated on February 9, 1953 as a domestic nonprofit Corporation.
1953, February 22
Declaration of Intent signed by members of All Saints parish.
1953, April 5  

Rev. Gordon Jones became first rector of All Saints.

1953, May 10 

Parish voted to purchase property from the Belknaps for a church building at 800 Abbott Road, “made possible by gifts from Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Folkers and Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Mayhew."

1954, January 1 
Rev. John Porter became chaplain to the college.
1954, February 3
All Saints Parish admitted to full standing at Diocese of Michigan convention (membership of ninety families). Original design for church building by architect Robert Mattern found to be too costly and were scrapped. Second design by Mattern accepted for construction. Christ Chapel sold to help finance construction.
1954, Fall 

Parish began holding Sunday morning services at Bailey School. Weekday and special services at University Lutheran Church on Ann St., East Lansing.

1955, August 3

Ground broken for new building.

1956, February 15

Ash Wednesday.  First service held in the new building at 800 Abbott Rd. University Lutheran returned rent money for purchase of pews; balance paid by Bishop Emrich.

1957, May 9
All Saints Church building dedicated by Rt. Rev. Richard Emrich, seventh Bishop of Diocese of Michigan. Canterbury Room designated for student use; very active program.
1959, September 10

Rev. Robert Gardner was called to minister to married students.

1960, August 1

Rev. Henry Fukui was appointed assistant minister to All Saints.

1961, August 31

Rev. Henry Fukui resigned.

1962, June 30   

Rev. Gordon Jones resigned to become rector of St. Andrews, Ann Arbor.

1962, July 1

Rev. Edward A. Roth became the parish’s second rector. Rev. Robert Gardner became chaplain. Rev. George Tuma was appointed curate.

1964, July 1 

Rev. George Tuma resigned.

1964, July 15 

Rev. Frederick Nolting appointed associate rector with particular responsibility for Christian Education. Vestry authorized holding of campus services at the Alumni Memorial Chapel. Originally one service at 9:30 a.m., another at 5 or 5:15 pm. Later the early service was dropped because other campus ministries wished to hold morning services at the chapel.

1965, April 18

Groundbreaking for addition to All Saints. Episcopal Ministry at Michigan State University (EMMSU) was established as a separate ministry, with the approval of the National Church, the College Work Committee of the Diocese of Michigan, and the clergy and vestry of All Saints Parish. Board of Trustees: Bishop’s representative, Fifth Province representative, Capital Convocation representative, the chaplain(s), rector of All Saints, All Saints Vestry representative, two members of the parish, and four students.  Chaplain to be called by board with rector having veto power. Chaplain and board responsible to Diocese of Michigan through program department.

1966, June 
Construction was begun on an enlargement of the church and addition of a Parish house or educational wing.  Sunday services were held in the auditorium of East Lansing High School.
1966, November 6  

First services held in the newly enlarged church.

1967, June 30 

Rev. Edward Roth resigned.

1967, July 1    

Rev. Fred Nolting resigned.

1967, October 1

Rev. William Eddy, Jr. was called to be third rector.

1967, December 10 

Dedication of the new structure held in conjunction with the installation of Rev. William A. Eddy.

1967-68 

Rev. Robert Gardner on one year sabbatical leave to study at Oxford University in England. In his absence, Rev. George Tuma became part time acting chaplain.

1968, June 16

Rev. Jeffrey Meadowcroft became assistant minister.

1970, February 28 

Rev. Jeffrey Meadowcroft resigned.

1970, July 1

Rev. Robert Gardner resigned to counsel draft dodgers in Canada. Rev. Richard Randall became assistant minister.

Early 1970's  

Parish Information brochure lists four active Guilds: Altar Guild, St. Anne’s, St. Hilda’s and St. Monica’s.

1971, August 15

Rev. Jack Hilyard became chaplain.

1972, August 1
Rev. George Tuma resigned to teach at San Francisco State and Rev. Richard Randall became curate of the parish.
1972, August 17  

Rev. Jack Hilyard became chaplain to MSU. Parish letter from Bill Eddy mentions Rev. Gerry Linz moved to Georgia.

1973
Rev. John Mitman became Chaplain of EMMSU. Reorganization of Diocese under newly elected Bishop H. Coleman. McGehee, EMMSU and other campus ministries came under control of the Special Ministries Committee, a committee of the Executive Council.
1981

Rev. William Eddy resigned. Rev. Edward G. Rice became third rector.

1990   
Renewal 90 campaign provided funds for renovation of sanctuary, addition of elevator and ramps, renovation of upper level womens' restroom to make it wheelchair accessible, in addition to improvements to the parking lot.
1994

Rev. Ted Rice resigned to become rector of St. Paul’s, Dedham, Mass.

1996, October 21

Rev. Caroline M. Stacey was installed as fifth rector.

2003

Capital campaign raises $960,000 for renovations, and construction of chapel.

2005, May

Rev. Stacey leaves for St. Luke’s in the Field, New York City.

2005, August
Rev. Larae Rutenbar begins as interim rector.
2007, February Rev. Katherine "Kit" Carlson begins tenure as sixth rector.


All Saints Episcopal Church
800 Abbott Road, East Lansing, Michigan, 48823
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