History of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Fort WayneWritten by Doug & Irene Lewis

In 1960 a seven and a half acres tract at the corner of St. Joe and Flutter roads was purchased for $9,000 by Trinity Episcopal Church, 611 W. Berry Street, Fort Wayne. The rector, Fr. George B. Wood, and the Vestry had decided to build the first parochial mission in the northeast section of the city. In September 1961 the Reverend John B. Hills, the Director of Christian Education at Trinity, accepted the call to be vicar of the new mission named Saint Alban’s. The first organizational meeting of the new congregation was held at Trinity Church January 28, 1962 with sixty-one people present.

On February 4, 1962 the first service was held in a temporary quarters at Bojrab Club House, 5258 Lahmeyer Road. There were 35 families present, 114 individuals, of which 58 were children. The clubhouse remained their church home until May 5, 1963.

An annual birthday celebration was held on the first Sunday in February. The first vicars committee appointed by Father Hills met in January 1962. Members were Richard C. Matz, Earle Rabus, Darrell B. Hedrick and John L. Diver. Fr. Hills further appointed Gertrude Miller as directress of the Altar Guild; Bernard Lewis, Acolyte Warden; and Anne Miller president of the Women’s Guild. William Smith conducted chapel for the Kindergarten. Further appointments were Robert Belcher, superintendent of the church School; George Fuzy, director of the Mens’ Club; Douglas & Irene Lewis and Nancy Miller advisors to Saint Alban’ s Youth groups. Maurice Bonjour headed the Ushers. John Diver was Property Chairman.

Ground breaking for St. Alban’ s Church began on November 7, 1962. The nave would seat 170. The building was completed in May 1963 at a total cost of $114,672.

The original St. Alban’s Church
The congregation held the first service on May 5, 1963. They joined in a procession from the clubhouse with cars loaded with everything that was used at the clubhouse. Fr. Hills led the procession driving his red Volkswagen with the processional cross protruding from its sunroof.

The cornerstone laying ceremony took place on May 10, 1963. A time capsule was placed in a copper box which contained a number of momentos, including a stone from the original St. Alban’s in England.

 

By 1964 the congregation had doubled, with eighteen confirmmands. In the spring of 1964 a vicarage was built at a cost of $ 25,000. Later in the same year Fr. Hills married Gwen Hughes, a Fort Wayne native. The first six clergy at St. Alban’s were hired by the rector of Trinity Church. In 1969 Trinity parish changed their bylaws to assure that St. Alban’s congregation would have at least one representative on the vestry. This person to serve a three-year term.

In 1970 a petition for enlarging the church school and a plan for financing the same signed by sixty-two families was presented to the Vicars committee at their February meeting by Fr. Smellie. An expansion fund was started.. Two mobile trailers were purchased for five hundred dollars each for extra classrooms.

In 1971 Bishop Klein consecrated St. Alban’s on February 7th to signify the end of the church indebtedness. The paid-up mortgages on both the church and the vicarage were by Fr. Wood. The church had tripled in size, now numbered 112 families. Fr. Smellie resigned in September 1971.

Art Richard as Senior Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church Burns the Mortgage of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, 1971

Father William Martin supplied through February 1972. In March 1972 Father Howell Anderson was appointed St. Alban’s new vicar by Father Corydon Randall, Trinity’s new rector. Father Anderson was a volunteer fireman and became chaplain of the St. Joe Township Fire Department. He died suddenly of a heart attack while on duty as a fireman on November 1,1972.

On December 1,1972 Father Kenneth Williams an associate rector at Trinity was anointed St. Alban’s new vicar.

On January 1, 1973 St. Alban’s hired a fund raising company to launch the campaign. By May Fr. Williams reported having collected $ 110,000 for the expansion. The expansion cost was estimated at $ 234,00 In the meantime Brookside Evangelical Mennonite Church at 7308 St. Rd. was listed for sale for $ 190,000. The Vicars committee determined that buying the Brookside church was then best option. This plan was presented to Trinity’s vestry and approved. Moving date was scheduled for September 1974. The congregation borrowed $ 200,000 for the new mortgage and $ 40,000 for improvements. The’ old facility was sold to the Church of the Brethren on September 17, 1974 for $147,000.

St. Alban’s Church today
So St. Alban’s made one more move, and were welcomed by the Mennonite Minister Lorene Pine. The procession to the new St. Alban’s was led by Bishop Sheridan, clergy, vicar’s committee, combined choirs and the congregations of the three Episcopal altars of Fort Wayne.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church exterior, 7308 St. Joe Road, Fort Wayne 1980s

During the sixth vicar’s term, the Rev. Todd Smelser 1976-81, St. Alban’s became an independent parish. The 80th Diocesan Convention in 1978 voted to grant Saint Alban’s individual parish status in the diocese. Father Smelser became the first rector on February 2nd 1979. In the fall of 1979 Saint Alban’s hosted the 81st Diocesan Convention.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, congregation with Bishop Sparks, 18 February 2019

Saint Alban’s continues to flourish today. Our seventh and most recent rector, The Reverend Daniel K. Layden served our congregation for 12 years. In February of 2019 we began our search for a new rector. In November 2020 Saint Alban’s Welcomed a new Priest in Charge, Father Michael Roeske. The family of Saint Alban’s is a very caring and affirming faith community. We strive through our worship, education, and outreach programs to be a light of God’s love in Fort Wayne Indiana.