A Short History of All Souls, to God's Glory
This early history was excerpted from an article by Judge Haldane Taylor, first Senior Warden, written for the book “A Church that God Built,” published in 2004.
In April 1978, during a meeting of The Evangelism Committee of All Saints Episcopal Church, the idea of forming a new mission was born. Whitey (Harald K) Haugan, Assistant Rector of All Saints, was chosen to be the Vicar of All Souls Mission. He brought with him his talented and creative wife, Mary. The name All Souls, which means “It is for all people,” was chosen by Whitey from the name of a famous evangelical church in London, England, whose rector, his friend, The Rev. John Stott, was one of the world’s most outstanding Biblical scholars, one of the many renowned preachers, teachers, speakers and musicians hosted by All Souls.
On December 31,1978, in the Clubhouse of the Woodlake Apartments on Sunbeam Road, the walls were bulging with expectant people. The Lord and His Holy Spirit were there for the first official service of All Souls Mission, during which our first baptism took place with a borrowed punch bowl. Whitey, the Shepherd of this growing flock, with his ever-present smile and guitar, led well over 125 eager worshippers into praise, thanksgiving and worship songs.
After our second service in the Clubhouse, it was obvious we had outgrown our facilities. Our third service was held at The Lighting Showcase, offered to us by the sons of one of our members. We brought our own lawn chairs or sat on the floor, with ladders used to mark the areas for different ages of children. Although beautiful crystal lamps were in reach, nothing was ever broken, so we knew Who was in charge.
During the eight months at the Lighting Showcase, as the number of congregants grew to over 180, the concern for the worship center on the Old St. Augustine property was becoming acute. From the onset, Whitey had emphasized the tithe as an act of obedience as commanded by Scripture. The parishioners responded and the building was ready for our first service on September 9, 1979.
The All Souls Mission Statement was declared: To Know Christ and Make Him Known
Many things set us apart from the traditional Episcopal Church, especially our Worship Service, which we believe God designed especially for us. This may include long periods of quiet, clapping our hands, raising our hands to the Lord in praise, dancing before the Lord, prophecy, time to testify what the Lord has done in our life, prayer at the altar or at a place set aside for specially trained prayer ministers. Indeed, All Souls is glued together with prayer.
All Souls believes in the ten percent Tithe. We have a Faith Budget, which means our pledges are not signed and are left on the altar.
We always encouraged Small Groups, Discipleship Study, church Bible Study, and Evangelism.
All Souls has always had a strong hard-working and tithing Vestry. Their meetings open with a prayer and a short Bible Study and close with prayer, making only the decisions that are unanimous.
After a huge retirement party, Whitey retired on March 1999. During his tenure, Whitey helped All Souls plant two missions: Servants of Christ in the Fruit Cove area, and Calvary in the Intracoastal West area. Whitey helped disciple for ordained ministry three outstanding young men, David Sandifer, David Allert and Alex Farmer (who became the 2nd Bishop of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese in 2022). When asked what he considered his legacy, Whitey responded that it was the legacy given to him in Scripture: “To proclaim Jesus as Savior and Lord and to keep everything we did under the authority of His Word.”
On May 1,1999 the Rev. Jim McCaslin, from Truro, Virginia, became our second Rector. During his tenure, Jim considers his legacy to be that he was part of the group who led us out of the apostasy and heresy of ECUSA into network that became the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). We first came under the jurisdiction of Bishop Joel Obetia of the Diocese of Madi West Nile in the Church of Uganda until ACNA formed, and we moved under our new Diocesan Bishop, Neil Lebhar, of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese.
The Rev. Gene Strickland led his first official service as our 3rd Rector on Sunday, May 7, 2007. On a hot Sunday, July 15, 2007, Gene led the first part of our last service in the Old St. Augustine property, home for 28 years, locked the door, and led the congregation and staff, who were carrying banners, almost 2 miles to Mandarin Middle School on Hood Road, where the second part of the service was continued.
On the day of Pentecost, May 2010, members of All Souls gathered at Mandarin Middle School, their “Home in the desert” for 28 months, to joyfully walk, bike, even push wheel chairs to their new Church Home at 4042 Hartley Road, formerly an Ace Hardware, then First Coast Home Remodeling, which, when you first enter, you see several Victorian-style “Home Fronts” lining two walls, presenting a friendly Village look. We feel that God chose this particular building and location for All Souls to turn our hearts toward Him and fulfill our Mission Statement. Gene’s last service was July, 18, 2010. We appreciate all he did in helping All Souls find the church God chose especially for us.
On January 23, 2011 we had “The Dedication and Consecration of All Souls Anglican Church,” with Bishop Neil Lebahr officiating, assisted by the Rev. Jim McCaslin, Canon to the Ordinary. Because The Rev. Charles Bailey loves the Lord and All Souls so much, he was chosen by Bishop Lebahr to be our Interim Rector. When asked, Charles says that he feels that one of the most awesome things the Lord did was to provide the opportunity for All Souls to serve as hosts for our Brazilian brothers and sisters in the Filadalfia Church (now Belong Church) to worship Sunday nights in the facility God provided for us. Their Pastor Emeritus, Pastor Geo, prayed for God to give this facility to the Kingdom of God long before All Souls purchased it.
On January 6, 2013, The Rev. Brook Batchelor officiated his first service as the 4th Rector of All Souls. Together with his wife Dawn and three daughters, All Souls has seen growth in numbers and anticipation of the Lord’s continued work to Know Christ and Make Him Known.
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