Episcopal Church of All Saints (Indianapolis)
Encyclopedia
The Episcopal Church of All Saints serves the Old Northside Historic District
near downtown Indianapolis
. It is distinctive within the diocese for its Anglo-Catholic style of worship, and is historically significant as the first Episcopal Church in the United States to regularly ordain a woman as priest. The building also served as the cathedral
of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
from 1911 until 1954, when the bishop's seat was relocated to Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
.
of the Diocese of Indiana in the late 19th century. Construction of All Saints Cathedral began on the site of Grace Church in 1910. The building was dedicated on All Saints Day in 1911. The 1912 diocesan convention designated the cathedral as "a House of Prayer, where all persons, of whatever race or nation, may have opportunity to worship God".
All Saints Church began a period of turmoil marked by its losing its cathedral status in 1954 as well as the change in neighborhood demographics following the end of World War II. This upheaval culminated in an outreach to the burgeoning African-American inner-city population, including the creation of a treble choir for children affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music
. This program flourished throughout the 1960s, and it was during this time that the congregation affixed a sign above the west doors reading "Everyone Is Welcome" (the sign is still present).
On January 1, 1977, The Rev. Jacqueline Means became the first woman to be regularly ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. The ordination was controversial within the congregation, with only 75 people attending her first celebration of communion the following morning, compared to regular Sunday attendance at the time of 90-120. The Rev. Tanya Vonnegut Beck, who began serving as All Saints' priest-in-charge in 2010, was the second woman regularly ordained in the Episcopal Church.
All Saints Church also built bridges to the homeless community of downtown Indianapolis throughout the 1970s and 1980s. This activity culminated in the founding of the Dayspring Center in 1989, an institution sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
and that operates in a building adjacent to the church.
In the 1990s, the congregation recognized the profound cultural impact of the AIDS
epidemic by honoring many victims of the epidemic in memorial services. This outreach is memorialized by a crystal chalice inlaid with jewels for use at the Eucharist as a memorial to those who died of AIDS.
In recent times, the parish community has evolved to reflect the changing demographic of the neighborhood. The congregation sponsors community meetings, a thriving concert series known as Arts at All Saints, and many other programs focused on spiritual growth and fellowship.
The two transepts are used as chapels. The north transept is a traditional Lady Chapel
complete with altar, statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and devotional accouterments. The south transept is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and is used weekly for midweek mass services.
The only stained glass windows in the church are located in the south transept Michael Chapel. A large triptych in lancet windows depicts Michael expelling Lucifer from Paradise. A lower triptych of quasi-clerestory windows depicts traditional themes in contemporary contexts: a Nativity with the Virgin depicted as an inner-city African-American mother, a Crucifixion in an urban scene of racism, and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost symbolized by the universality of satellites orbiting the earth.
Old Northside Historic District
Old Northside is a residential neighborhood near downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana, and located between 12th and 16th streets, and Pennsylvania and Bellfontaine Streets...
near downtown Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. It is distinctive within the diocese for its Anglo-Catholic style of worship, and is historically significant as the first Episcopal Church in the United States to regularly ordain a woman as priest. The building also served as the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana, is a diocese in Province V of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state of Indiana. Its see is in Indianapolis, Indiana at Christ Church...
from 1911 until 1954, when the bishop's seat was relocated to Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
Christ Church Cathedral, Indianapolis
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis. Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest religious building in continuous use in Indianapolis.- History :...
.
History
All Saints is the successor to Grace Church, a parish founded in 1866. Under Bishop David Knickerbacker, Grace Church became pro-cathedralPro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
of the Diocese of Indiana in the late 19th century. Construction of All Saints Cathedral began on the site of Grace Church in 1910. The building was dedicated on All Saints Day in 1911. The 1912 diocesan convention designated the cathedral as "a House of Prayer, where all persons, of whatever race or nation, may have opportunity to worship God".
All Saints Church began a period of turmoil marked by its losing its cathedral status in 1954 as well as the change in neighborhood demographics following the end of World War II. This upheaval culminated in an outreach to the burgeoning African-American inner-city population, including the creation of a treble choir for children affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music
Royal School of Church Music
The largest church music organisation in Britain, the Royal School of Church Music was founded in 1927 by Sir Sydney Nicholson and has 11,000 members worldwide; it was originally named the School of English Church Music. It seeks to enable church music in the present and invest in its future,...
. This program flourished throughout the 1960s, and it was during this time that the congregation affixed a sign above the west doors reading "Everyone Is Welcome" (the sign is still present).
On January 1, 1977, The Rev. Jacqueline Means became the first woman to be regularly ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. The ordination was controversial within the congregation, with only 75 people attending her first celebration of communion the following morning, compared to regular Sunday attendance at the time of 90-120. The Rev. Tanya Vonnegut Beck, who began serving as All Saints' priest-in-charge in 2010, was the second woman regularly ordained in the Episcopal Church.
All Saints Church also built bridges to the homeless community of downtown Indianapolis throughout the 1970s and 1980s. This activity culminated in the founding of the Dayspring Center in 1989, an institution sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis
The Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis, formerly known as the Episcopal Diocese of Indiana, is a diocese in Province V of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. It encompasses the southern two-thirds of the state of Indiana. Its see is in Indianapolis, Indiana at Christ Church...
and that operates in a building adjacent to the church.
In the 1990s, the congregation recognized the profound cultural impact of the AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic by honoring many victims of the epidemic in memorial services. This outreach is memorialized by a crystal chalice inlaid with jewels for use at the Eucharist as a memorial to those who died of AIDS.
In recent times, the parish community has evolved to reflect the changing demographic of the neighborhood. The congregation sponsors community meetings, a thriving concert series known as Arts at All Saints, and many other programs focused on spiritual growth and fellowship.
Architecture
The building constructed in 1910 as the Cathedral of All Saints is a brick American Gothic Revival church. The plans as designed by Alfred Grindle followed the English collegiate style layout with a chancel nearly as long as the nave. Due to funding restrictions, only the nave and crossing were constructed according to the plans. A wooden structure served as the chancel, significantly limiting the architectural impact of the building. By the late 1950s this clapboard annex was structurally unsound, and a new brick apse and sacristy designed by the firm Evans Woollen and Associates replaced the old chancel. The curved wall of the new apse contrasts greatly with the rectilinear rigidity of the Gothic nave. This dissonance is viewed by many as a stylistic strength of the building in its blending of hard and soft architectural forms. Acoustically, the curved apse wall promotes dissemination and reverberation of sound, creating a space much noted for its use in musical performance.The two transepts are used as chapels. The north transept is a traditional Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
complete with altar, statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and devotional accouterments. The south transept is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and is used weekly for midweek mass services.
The only stained glass windows in the church are located in the south transept Michael Chapel. A large triptych in lancet windows depicts Michael expelling Lucifer from Paradise. A lower triptych of quasi-clerestory windows depicts traditional themes in contemporary contexts: a Nativity with the Virgin depicted as an inner-city African-American mother, a Crucifixion in an urban scene of racism, and a manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost symbolized by the universality of satellites orbiting the earth.