After 125 years All Saints' Episcopal Church survives hurricanes, pandemic, vandalism

JENSEN BEACH — Within the old pinewood walls of All Saints' Episcopal Church sits a congregation full of life.

While the historic building in Jensen Beach has withstood scores of hurricanes and storms, the key to the church's survival has been its people, said the Rev. Dr. Anthony B. Holder, the church's rector.

As the church marks its 125-year anniversary, Holder said they're remembering it's been people in the community who have helped it endure – most recently a pandemic, quarantines and vandalism.

"When I say the church, I'm not just talking about the building, I'm talking about the people," he said. "The thing about it is, many churches (that) have existed since that time would have gone through a whole lot and have survived. Because at the end of the day, the church is the people."

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In-person services stopped in early 2020 during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cemetery and church grounds were vandalized at least three times, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

But the church and cemetery survived.

History: Families span generations

All Saints' Episcopal Church is older than Martin County, which was founded in 1925.

The first cornerstone of the All Saints' Episcopal Church was laid on Dec. 5 1898 and the earliest documented dates of the congregation gathering without a building are in 1894.

All Saints' Episcopal Cemetery was opened in 1899; the first burial recorded in public court records was in 1902.

With more than a century of history, the graves span generations, said Joyce Menard, the church's historian.

"People come from Hobe Sound, Port St. Lucie. Okeechobee, Stuart, Port Salerno, so there's a lot of family relations over generations that are here and family groupings," she said. "Even if (the graves) are not right next to each other, they are still here, so they can come and see two or three generations of their family here."

Some of the area's earliest founders are buried in the cemetery, including pioneer and developer Capt. Henry E. Sewall, which the Town of Sewall's Point is named after. He died in 1925.

Sewall's grave is beneath the windows of the church's office.

A church blossoms with life despite pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic marked unprecedented challenges for All Saints' Episcopal Church.

In-person services stopped amid lockdowns ordered during the first year of the pandemic. The cemetery and church grounds were vandalized at least three times, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

"One of the challenging things for any priest is ... if they are conducting a service, you expect to find people in the church," Holder said. "That was not the case. When we were having the pandemic, I was preaching to empty pews."

Still, Holder acted as if he was preaching to rows full of people.

And thanks to technology, the congregation could still listen to his sermons.

Despite the physical emptiness of the church, the congregation persevered by attending virtual Mass. Bible studies and church meetings also were virtual, he said.

"Zoom was your friend during the pandemic," Holder said, "because that is how we were able to continue functioning."

The church also continued its programs and community outreach.

Holder credits that outreach to one of the church's most seminal acts of people gathering in person — to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

"We wanted to be a center, a place where people could be vaccinated and it could be an avenue for folks to have ... (to) conquer this whole pandemic," he said. "For us, first and foremost, reaching out to the community in this way is because that's what we like to do."

The church established three vaccination clinics that were open to the whole community, not just the people of the church, he said.

"We wanted to reach out ... to make sure that people remain well, or (were) well, and will fight this pandemic," Holder said.

'Astounded how beautiful it was inside'

While the cemetery holds a sacred place in the Martin County community, many passersby don't realize the church has a separate presence of its own, Holder said.

"This cemetery is very interesting because many people know the cemetery; they don't know the church," he said. "Or if they know the church, they think the church is the chapel of the cemetery."

Louise Andrews, a congregant who lives in Jensen Beach, said people unfamiliar with the church are surprised by how vibrant it is inside.

"I was here early, and a couple came in with flowers for the church, and I brought them into the church, they were just astounded how beautiful it was inside," Andrews said. "I know the first time I went in there, I got goosebumps."

The church, too, has provided a beacon for people navigating a new neighborhood or seeking a place of love and support after losing someone.

Andrews said she's been a congregant since losing her husband 10 years ago. The church and its people were so welcoming, she said she converted to become Episcopalian.

And she's vowed to make sure the church's loving legacy continues.

"I feel like it's our turn to leave a legacy for future generations to ... keep it in good shape, recruit people in a community and tell people about God; that God loves you," Andrews said. "When I grew up in a Baptist church, I never heard that so it was refreshing to hear that when I came here."

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Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@TCPalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: All Saints' Episcopal Church Jensen Beach 125 year anniversary