All Saints Church is an Episcopal Church in the diocese of Washington, D.C. All Saints was established in 1642 by Sir Thomas Gerard, a Roman Catholic, for his Anglican wife as a “Chapel of Ease” by the wisdom and Grace of the first Catholic settlers who fostered tolerance and love of others and religious freedom for all as we now see on the local highway signs that All Saints no longer extols and exemplifies. The first Church was built on the site in 1750 and called Tomakoken Church after the nearby creek. In 1823, the Church became known as All Saints’ Church of King and Queen Parish now Oakley Parish. The present church building was constructed in 1846. “A more peaceful spot would be difficult to find than the little church and cemetery,” wrote Robert E. T. Pogue, in his book “Old Maryland Landmarks” - how very true - and therein the All Saints Cemetery lies Robert and other family members resting in peace.
The chapel that was in catastrophic physical disrepair is now fully restored and physically functional and again conducting services, such as the are without a full-time ministering ordained Priest.
However, the congregation is not restored and functional where it survives with under a dozen parishioners some of whom in leadership positions but irregularly attend church services are unchristian in self-aggrandized haughty and hurtful demeanor and behavior towards congregants. All Saints has an uncertain future imperiled by this unchristian behavior of a few remaining hardhearted parishioners in leadership positions resulting in discord and disharmony. Most long-standing All Saints members have left All Saints for Christ Church Episcopal and elsewhere.
Consequently, All Saints struggles to attract and retain new members where its unsavory leadership continues to offend and repel new members such as the last Treasurer, they wrongly accused of the theft of Church funds as they did with the previous two Treasurers (despite the fact all three personally paid for and used QuickBooks) who they offended and ostracised. All three have since removed themselves from their previous active participation with All Saints.
The Holy Eucharist is celebrated on select Sundays
95-year-old Father Harry Harper has well served as Rector of All Saints but has since retired as Rector escaping the Parish disharmony brought about by dishonorable Parish leadership wronging him disrespecting his long and faithful service to All Saints and the Episcopal Church.
All Sants now is led by Mick Blackistone as Senior Warden although he lives far outside of the area and irregularly attends church services. The Episcopal Diocese has since named retired ordained priest Greg Syler as Priest-in-Charge, although he does not regularly attend and conduct church services as he also lives far outside of the area. Instead, deacon Laura Carpenter, who is not an ordained priest and cannot consecrate the wine offering. conducts church services a few times a month, but as does not Greg Syler, she does not act as a priest to counsel or console congregants.
Oakley Road, Avenue