Our History
All Angels Episcopal Church was built in the Queen Anne Victorian style in 1899 on North Jefferson Avenue as a mission of St. Stephen’s church, Milledgeville, and prospered for 18 years.
However, by 1917 the boll weevil had devastated the cotton economy in Putnam County, and the church was forced to close its doors. Bishop Mikell sold the property in December 1919. The church was converted to a private dwelling and remained so with several owners until 1999.
In August 1999, 14 eager Putnam County Episcopalians purchased the building and began restorations. Bishop Frank Allan granted permission to use the original name of “All Angels.”
Between August and December 24, 1999, nearly 80 years worth of added interior walls, a loft area, kitchen, and other additions were removed. The original heart pine wallboards, scissor-truss beams, and flooring were all intact.
“Angels” from other churches in Eatonton, Athens, Gainesville, Madison, Milledgeville, Monroe, Atlanta, and New Jersey aided the restoration with their labor, money, and in-kind gifts.
The restoration and furnishings were all paid for by December 24, 1999, when a Holy Eucharist service was attended by a standing-room only crowd of members and well-wishers.
Diocesan Process
Bishop Allan granted status as a Chapel of St. Stephens’s Church and, in November 2000, granted priest-in-charge status to the Reverend Robert B. Dendtler. Shortly after his ordination as the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta, the Right Reverend J. Neil Alexander initiated a final process of examination based on Canon law.
All Angels met the requirements, and an invitation was extended to petition the Diocese for admittance as a parish at the 95th Annual Council on November 9, 2001, at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. All Angels’ delegates were the Reverend Dendtler, Anna M. Haslbauer, and James P. Marshall, Jr., joined by several other members as the group proudly entered the Hall of Bishops to be formally recognized.
On Sunday, November 11, 2001, the Steering Committee of All Angels met following morning worship and renamed itself the Vestry of All Angels and invited the Reverend Dendtler to become its first rector. Bishop Alexander dedicated and consecrated All Angels on Sunday, January 27, 2002, followed by a celebration supper.