History of All Saints Chapel, Orr’s Island

In every era and culture, people have sought inspiring places in which to discover and reflect upon the mystery of God, and to come together to deepen their discovery through community worship. All Saints is such a place. Its Christian founders designed its beautiful space to inspire all who come to deepen their love of God and the divine creation.

Please come in to enjoy its peaceful and restorative atmosphere and learn about the faith community that was instrumental in constructing the chapel and designing and planting its garden.

The first five Episcopal services on Orr’s Island were conducted in 1894 at Bellevue Cottage, a boarding house, by The Reverend Elwin Smith from Lambertville, NJ. The offering made at the final service established a fund for the construction of a chapel, a project that was endorsed by The Right Reverend Henry Neely, Bishop of Maine, who wrote,

“I heartily and gratefully approve of the movement for the erection of a simple church on Orr’s Island, believing that such a provision would be for the spiritual advantage, not only of summer visitors, but also of permanent residents”.

In 1895, at the invitation of Miss Harriet S. Baquet of Burlington, NJ, and Miss May S. Decker of Manchester Green, CT, island summer residents, and early supporters of building the chapel, The Reverend Smith returned and held services in their home. Services in1897 and 1898 were held at Moulton’s Ice Cream Parlor on Little Island Road and Seaside Hall on Lowell’s Cove Road.

Between 1894 and 1900, summer residents raised $1,000, just short of the full amount required for construction. In 1900, summer resident Emma DeCoursey Holt held a musicale at her home “Kinsale” on Orr’s Island and raised an additional $100 which made up the budget shortfall for construction. During the fundraising effort, building plans were drawn up, and a parcel of land was purchased from a local resident who also hauled the assembled building materials to the site free of charge. With everything paid for, construction commenced, and all was completed by 1900.

Stained glass window behind the Organ

On August 6, 1900, the Feast of the Transfiguration, The Right Reverend Robert Codman, who had succeeded Bishop Neely upon Neely’s death in 1899, consecrated the chapel. In 1901, The Reverend Samuel Upjohn and The Reverend John Falkner, both of Germantown, Pennsylvania, shared in conducting chapel services. From 1902 to 1905, The Reverend Falkner continued his service alone. In 1907, The Reverend Charles Henry Arndt, also of Germantown, succeeded Reverend Falkner continuing his service for many years, marrying Reverend Falkner’s daughter, Helen. To this day, The Arndt family has a strong local presence on the Islands.

Since the original chapel was built without side aisles, these, with their dormer windows, were added in 1905. These substantially increased the worship space and allowed more natural light to enter the interior. After 1905, stained glass windows were added. Mary Floyd Delaney, Bishop Neeley’s widow, gave the magnificent altar window in her late husband’s honor; and the children of Sarah Jane DeCoursey, one of whom was Emma DeCoursey Holt, gave the aisle windows in honor of their mother’s memory. Through the years, parishioners and friends of the chapel have donated many of the chapels furnishing, including altar frontals fair linens and eucharistic vessels used at communion. These gifts reflect the love many have had for the chapel and its service to the people of the islands.

In 1994, the Chapel Committee purchased a parcel of land on the street side of the chapel so a parking lot could be added; this addition liberated the previous parking area for the development of the Memorial Garden.