Our Parish History

St. Barnabas and All Saints' Church began in unused stable in the Forest Park neighborhood
as a mission church school of St. Peter's Church, Springfield, on the first Sunday after Easter in 1906.
Subsequently, Evening Prayer and a sermon that were offered every Sunday by the rector of St. Peter's.

The first priest-in-in charge, the Reverend Charles E. Hill, is credited with the idea of renaming of the mission all Saints.
This was the name of the church in Springfield, Essex, in England, where Springfield's founder,
William Pynchon, had been a Church Warden and before he came to America in 1630.
Father Hill had the idea to build a simplified replica of the English church to serve its American namesake.

The cornerstone was laid on Oakland Street in 1908, close to all Saints Day, appropriately.
At first only that nave of this new church was built with the basement to serve as a parish house.

In 1911, a rectory was built on Oxford Street, and the church became a parish.
The church was enlarged in 1913 and a chancel added as a memorial to the late Bishop
Alexander H. Vinton, first Bishop of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
Bishop Vinton's Episcopal ring is embedded in the ciborium still used at services.

During 1917-1922 two stained glass windows picturing Bishop Samuel Seabury,
first Episcopal bishop in the United States, and Bishop Vinton were installed.

The Reverend frank C. Wheelock served as rector from 1923 to 1948.
This was an active time in the life of the church. A new rectory was built adjacent to
All Saints in 1924 and a new parish hall erected in 1928. Also in 1924, All Saints' Church
founded a Sunday school about a mile and half away on Sumner Avenue in
East Forest Park called the St. Barnabas mission.

The first vicar of this new mission was Rev. Walcott Coit Treat, who arrived in January 1926.
Construction of the church building began in 1931.

The Rev. John Brett Fort was called to serve as rector from 1944 to 1948.
Father Fort also acted as youth director for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts
and director of Bucksteep Manor in Washington, Massachusetts.
The Frank C. Wheelock memorial window was installed during this period in the mortgage substantially reduced.

The Reverend John A. Atkins became rector in 1949. Under Father Atkins the remaining mortgage was wiped
out and they were extensive improvements to both the rectory and church.

In the years to come, however, as congregations did not grow at the previous rate, it became clear that
St. Barnabas and All Saints' served at the same neighborhood. By 1978 decision was made to sell the
St. Barnabas property and combine the congregations in the newly renamed "St. Barnabas and All Saints' Church".
This was accomplished with sensitive direction of the rector, Rev. Langford Baldwin, and his successor, Rev. Gordon Dean.

In 1978, Reverend Denis Ford became the third rector of St. Barnabas and All Saints Church.
His seven years were characterized by growth, stability, in a genuine sense of church and family.

The Reverend Scott Seabury was called as the fourth rector in 1986. Significant improvements to the church
were made in the late 1980s, notably a major renovation of Wheelock Hall in the basement.
Outreach efforts including the "Warming Place" program, which provided shelter to area homeless during the
winter months and support for the fund for the hungry and homeless.

In 1989, a new rectory was purchased at 35 Bennington St. The former rectory was dedicated as the
"Tarby Christian Education Center", a memorial to former senior Warden W. "Mike" Tarby.
It now serves as offices for the Greater Springfield Council of Churches, Inc.

In 1988, Bates auditorium, the second floor of the parish hall was rented to the Drama Studio for Performing Arts.
This organization continues to use parts of the parish house.
The parish house also serves as a free meeting place for many other community groups.

The Reverend Joan Phelps became the fifth rector in 1994 and served until December 1999.
During her tenure, a successful capital fund drive made it possible to repair a Church structure and renovate the Tarby Center.

Effective in May 1999, the vestry voted that in order to meet the challenge of its mission, it must move to part-time
status for its rector. In September 2000, the vestry of St. Barnabas and All Saints' Church and the executive committee
of the Christ Church Cathedral voted to call a full-time priest to serve as priest-in-charge at St. Barnabas and All Saints' Church
as the canon at Christ Church Cathedral, and recently appointed the Rev. Charles Summers.

Come to the little beige church with the bright red doors.

Come join us in our spiritual journey of fellowship!

Take part in the life of our parish activities.
Take time to enjoy our suppers, Bible studies and various
social activities sponsored by our Parish Life Committee.

As part of the Forest Park Community, we are home to the Drama Studio,
its acting and dance classes and highly acclaimed performances, to
Boy Scout Troop #49, AA and OA, and to the Council of Churches.

Everyone is welcome to worship with us in a spiritual life, in
fellowship, and in our ministry to the Forest Park community.