All Saints Church

Gazing at All Saints Church, one might wonder about the stories held within its aged walls. All Saints Church started as a simple mission of St. Mary’s Church in Dorchester. It was founded in 1867. Its purpose was to serve the Church of England workers who had come to the area for the Old Colony Railroad and other industries. The church grew quickly. In 1872, it held its first services in a new wood-framed building on Dorchester Avenue. This was near the current Ashmont station. A pivotal moment in All Saints history arrived with the Peabodys. One snowy day in 1879, Oliver and Mary Peabody, grieving the loss of their child, found themselves at All Saints. Father Bennitt’s sermon on the Holy Innocents resonated deeply with their own loss. The Peabodys, prominent Unitarians, were so moved that they converted and joined the church. Oliver Peabody’s financial acumen and leadership soon proved invaluable. The church was expanding rapidly, with worshippers often overflowing onto the porch. A new, larger church was needed. The Peabodys suggested a young architect, Ralph Adams Cram. They even funded the construction of the grand $100,000 structure we see today. Built with Quincy granite and Nova Scotia limestone, the cornerstone was laid in 1892. The first service was held in December 1893, and the consecration followed in 1895. This marked Cram’s first church, a design that would influence architecture across continents. Years later, the ravages of time and vandalism took a toll on All Saints’ beautiful stained glass. One panel was smashed, and two medallions, depicting Christ and Mary, needed restoration. Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser skillfully repaired the windows, preserving the original glass while replacing the brittle lead. They also addressed the deteriorating millwork, ensuring the windows’ continued protection. From its humble beginnings as a mission to its grand granite presence, All Saints Church holds within it stories of faith, loss, and renewal. The echoes of Father Bennitt’s sermons, the Peabodys’ transformative grief, and Cram’s architectural vision still resonate within these walls. All Saints Church is not merely a building. It is a living testament to the enduring power of community and faith.