# All Saints Episcopal Church (San Leandro, California)

All Saints Episcopal Church is an Episcopal parish located in San Leandro, California and part of the Episcopal Diocese of California. The Reverend Justin Cannon is the current Rector and Bishop Marc Andrus the overseeing bishop.

## Beginnings in Oakland, California

In 1860, the Church of the Advent building was constructed at E. 14th Street and 17th Avenue in Oakland, California. Twenty years later, this building was moved a mere seven blocks to a larger lot, located at 12th Avenue and Foothill Boulevard, and was renovated. In March 1883, Mrs. D.B. Hinckley presented the church with a memorial window that was installed in the parish chancel. In 1886, construction of a new larger church began, which was combined with the old church building, and from 1897-1898 numerous alterations occurred. Today, the original structure of the Church of the Advent remains and continues to be used as a parish hall. Since 1927 the congregation has been called Saint James Episcopal Church.
On September 11, 1910 members of the Church of the Advent organized “All Saints Mission.” The cornerstone for the mission church was laid on August 5, 1911 at 96th Avenue and Plymouth Street in Elmhurst, Oakland, California. In September 1911, Church of the Advent donated a memorial window during construction of the All Saints Mission Church. That same month, the first services were conducted by Archdeacon Emery in the newly completed All Saints church.

## Emergence in San Leandro, California

On September 10, 1910 a group called Saint Mark’s Guild was formed in San Leandro, California, which held services in private homes. In 1932, Saint Mark’s Guild began renting a cottage and transformed it into a chapel before eventually moving to Odd Fellows Hall (Legion Hall). In 1935, Saint Mark's Guild in San Leandro had experienced notable growth, but they had no church. In Elmhurst, All Saints had a building but church attendance had dwindled. After negotiations between the two congregations, with the assistance of Bishop Parsons, plans were made to move the building to its present location in San Leandro. The move began in December 1935 and was completed in April 1936. At that time, the two congregations merged and became known as All Saints Episcopal Church, San Leandro. The Order of Dedication Services for all Saints was conducted January 26, 1936 by the Venerable W.R. Hodgkin, Archdeacon, followed by the celebration of Holy Communion with the Reverend J.M. Malloch being the celebrant.

## Ecojustice Advocacy

All Saints Episcopal Church is a pioneer congregation leading the charge around ecojustice and ecotheology. It is the host church of a national hiking ministry, Holy Hikes, a national network started in 2010 committed to “restoring Communion with all of Creation” https://holyhikes.org/chapters/ In 2016, All Saints received a $56,000 grant from the United Thank Offering for ‘Greening All Saints,’ a project which involved installing solar panels on the church.
In partnership with East Bay Municipal Utility District, the congregation converted a more than 1000 square foot lawn to a sustainable landscape, described by EBMUD’s Sustainable Landscape Map in this manner, “This is a stunning example of switching out an old 1000 sq. ft. lawn for a handsome low water and low maintenance garden. The combination of succulents and flowering shrubs dresses up the space to welcome visitors. The garden is also certified by the National Wildlife Federation for supporting local birds and butterflies.” This converted showcase garden has also been certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
The congregation continues to advocate in areas of ecojustice and deepened relationship between people and nature, including even hosting a first of its kind forum on medical cannabis.

## Notable Congregants

Justin R. Cannon is the seventh rector of All Saints. He is an Episcopal priest, an author, and a theologian. He was called to serve All Saints as rector in 2016.
Katherine Ward served as Assisting Priest at All Saints from 2014 to 2018. Before retiring, she was the rector of Saint Augustine’s Parish, Oakland, for eight years and was the first black, female rector to serve in the Episcopal Diocese of California.

## Services

All Saints’ primary worship services are celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, held Sunday mornings at 8:00am and 10:15am. In addition to these Sunday services, the community holds services on high feast days including Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Other rites and sacraments celebrated throughout the year include baptism, confirmation, matrimony, funerals and memorial services.

## List of rectors

* Rev. Henry T. Praed, 1st rector 1946 – 1960
* Rev. John Phillip Ashey II, 2nd rector 1960 – 1965
* Rev. Gerald Skillicorn, 3rd rector 1965 – 1969
* Rev. Ferdinand D. Saunders, 4th rector 1969 – 1987
* Rev. Dr. Richard A. Swanson, 5th rector 1987 – 2001
* Rev. Dr. Rob Droste, 6th rector 2002 – 2015
* Rev. Justin R. Cannon, 7th rector 2016 – present