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All Saints Anglican Church
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There is an indication that very occasional
services were held in the 1890’s in Weyburn, which were provided by St. John
the Baptist Church, Moose Jaw, although the organized worship started in 1903
with visits by the Rev. G.P. Terry of St Giles’, Estevan. Services were first held in the Orange Hall, above
the union Bank of 3rd St. (most recently the M & M
Confectionary). Key names were;
George Johnston( his daughter Ruby was one of the first babies to be baptized at
All Saints), Frank Shepherd, Ralph Andros, John Tate, Digby Church, Clarence
Harney and Ernest Jackson. In 1905 property at Bison Avenue and Third Street (
our current location) was purchased along with a small cottage which became the
first vicarage. The total price,
regarded as high at the time, was $ 1,350.00.
In 1906 a 30 foot frame church was incorporated which eventually led to
four enlargements. The four corners
are marked on the inside walls. In
1908 The Rev. T.E. Rowe came from
the West Indies to carry on the ministry at All Saints. In 1911 The Rev. William Cole of ‘The Prairie Brotherhood’
arrived to lead the congregation to self support. this was despite the attitude of parish leaders who were of
the opinion, “there are so few of us, we can’t do it!”. In 1912 All Saints became self-supporting with The Rev. White
becoming the first Rector. The
length of the church was doubled during that year.
In 1913 The Rev. Canon Williams was appointed Rector and he ministered
throughout World War I and into the first years of peace.
In 1922 The Rev. Miles Custance was appointed Rector. In 1924 the
beautiful stained glass ‘Transfiguration
Window' was installed. The
window, admired by many, was a gift from All Saints Chapel, England. The window is a unique piece of stained glass artwork, the
formulas for some of the colours now missing. In 1928 The Rev. William Cole returned as Rector.
Bruce Robinson, the organist, who was appointed in 1927, continued for
fifty years until his retirement at the age of 89.
In 1935 some major improvements were carried out on the Church.
A rectory had been purchased on Bison Avenue at Second Street.
The old rectory was sold and removed.
In 1946 the church building was further enlarged and steps were taken for
a fund raising campaign under the direction of Harold Kempton who had just
returned from wartime service. In
that year Archdeacon A.W.R. Ashley returned from army service to become Rector
of All Saints. The expansion
program, which included the basement hall, was completed in 1949.
The Anglican Church Women of All Saints worked long and hard every night
at the food concession in the rink to raise at least $ 8,888.00 for the
expansion. In 1949 Archdeacon F.
Baddam was appointed Rector serving the congregation for some twenty years.
On May 3rd, 1953 Bishop Michael Coleman formally consecrated
All Saints. Since 1953 the Parish of All Saints has experienced
many joys and sorrows, the appointment of many more clergy, and the coming and
going of many families. From that ‘faithful few’ in 1911 All Saints has
grown into a vibrant church deeply committed to spreading the ‘Good News’ to
any who choose to hear. Author and Source Unknown
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