[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16844-16845]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN CELEBRATION OF ALL SOULS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 7, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my warm 
congratulation for All Souls' Episcopal Church for its monumental 150th 
Anniversary. All Souls' Episcopal Church has lived up to its mission 
since its early establishment. Today, the Church continues to serve the 
Harlem community residents with great pride. For the last 150 years, 
All Souls' have walked through difficult paths, but each time the 
congregation and the leadership has been able to overcome the 
struggles.
  All Souls' long history began in 1859 when early members gathered in 
a large room of a Depot on Sixth Avenue. Two years later, due to an 
unexpected demographic expansion, the leadership saw that it was 
necessary to relocate to a more suiting location. The construction of a 
new Church began. The consecration of the 48th Street became the home 
of the community up until 1906. In between this period, at least until 
1902, All Souls' had reached its apogee. Under the leadership of 
Reverend Dr. Herber Newton, the Church was considered the most 
``fashionable'' out of all churches in town. Reverend Dr. Newton's 
preaching and charisma were able to draw members from all classes and 
backgrounds. At this time, the exploding list of membership brought 
back the reconsideration of relocating the Church. The consecration was 
moved from 48th Street to 66th Street.
  In 1902, Reverend Dr. Newton retired due to advancing age. The 
congregation was grateful for his leadership and bright visions. In 
1906, All Souls' merged with the Church of the Archangel and relocated 
to the present location on 88 St. Nicholas Avenue. The two Churches 
stood side by side, sought strength for one another while reaching out 
to the community with high dedication and enthusiasm.
  In the 1920s, the drastic change of demographic of the era was 
noticeable. Hispanics and African Americans began to move uptown, where 
at the time this area was heavily consisted of Caucasian population. A 
great lesson was learned with this new change. While our Nation was 
sunk into a deep racial violence and movements against the Black 
communities, All Souls' took the utmost civil action to defeat racism 
that occurred within the Church's leadership. The disagreement, which 
led to bitterness took place between the Vestry and Reverend Dodd, 
displays a valuable lesson for many to learn--one must stand up to 
speak for his or her principle despite social surrounding pressures. 
The courageous act of Reverend Dodd and Bishop Manning eventually 
enabled ``all people in the

[[Page 16845]]

neighborhood'', regardless of race and color, to attend the services.
  The livelihood of the Church was revived under the leadership of 
Reverend Lauder. Under his ministry, All Souls' was able to welcome old 
and new members. In addition, the Church was able to contribute to the 
community through programs. Reverend Lauder led the congregation and 
the community to establish a program, which reached out to assist those 
who needed shelters. This action strongly reflects the mission of the 
church from the beginning and sends a genuine message to the community 
that together there is nothing we cannot do.
  All Souls' Episcopal Church has contributed much to the strength and 
growth of Harlem. In the last few years, All Souls' has provided after 
school and summer programs, which were made available not only to 
Church members but to the entire community. This is the kind of message 
our community needs. Not only that All Souls' preaches the idea of 
openness and lending hands to those who have less than us, but it 
actually put the idea to practice and have certainly made an impact on 
one's life.
  Mr. Speaker, colleagues, allow me to take this moment to wish All 
Souls' Episcopal Church and its congregation a special 150th 
Anniversary in this extraordinary moment of their history. With one and 
a half century of chronicle, struggles, and achievements, I can say 
without hesitation that All Souls' has become an essential element 
leading to the remarkable transformation of Harlem. The victory in the 
battle against racism within the Church contributed to the overall 
victory of the Civil Rights movement about four decades later. I am 
grateful for this institution's existence and its extensive efforts to 
reach out to all people regardless of race or color.

                          ____________________