Since 1928 there has been an encouragement to hold different types of services and this has definitely been a feature of All Saints across the years. All Saints holds very diverse worship services that cater for a whole spectrum of people. These range from informal family services to very traditional services, Taize services and reflective services. Some are choir-led, some led by contempory music groups while others have no music at all. There have even been Jazz services held during the city’s Jazz Festival. Some of the more creative services are undertaken to celebrate the major festivals and seasons of the church such as at Christmas, Easter, the Season of Creation and the Season of Pentecost. These services are also complimented by the more traditional Advent Carols, and Nine Lessons and Carols.
Since the first time Anglican’s gathered for worship welcome and hospitality have always been important. This has ranged from morning teas to picnics and parishioner meals. This focus on hospitality has certainly continued today where most services have refreshments, morning teas and shared lunches. Some services such as Messy Church, 5pm and 7pm regularly have a meal with the service.
The first Anglicans joined with other denominations in a clearing in the bush for worship. The first sAnglican Service was in the Survey Office in February 18th 1872. Service was a As the city grew the services moved to the Court House where Anglicans and Presbyterians held services on alternate Sundays.The first services held in an Anglican church were in 1875. Clergy at this time were expected to lead services across a large area that incorporated Palmerston North, Feilding, Bulls, Sanson and Ashhurst.
Passion week in 1880 saw the first Choral Evensong Eucharist service led by the choir. The choir has always been an important part of All Saints services, recitals and carol services accompanied by the large pipe organ in later years. The choir continues to serve at the 5pm service
1890 saw the establishment of a Communicants Guild and regular family services were conducted. Family services have continued to be important across the years. For example, in September and October 1951 a Teaching Mission was held that included regular family services as well as a youth week and a children’s service where the children contributed by doing readings and a robed children’s choir was initiated. Family services have continued to be important at All Saints. Presently the 10am service is an intergenerational family service where children, from Pre School to Year 9 also have their own groups. Messy Church is also a family service that is held once a month and includes, themed crafts, games, talk and a meal.
Following WWII there was an increase in church activity. In 1945 a ‘Busing scheme’ was initiated where parishioners paid for buses to go through the city picking up people free of charge so they could attend church. They also served breakfast after the 8am service. The church was again overflowing on Easter Sunday in 1949
The movement of the Holy Spirit and healing has often been a feature of worship at All Saints. The first healing services were held on the 23-24th October 1923 during the Spiritual Healing Mission. Some people had vision and hearing healed while others considered this to be “the greatest spiritual experience of their lives”. Healing services were again held in the 1960’s during the charismatic renewal centred on Massey University, in the 1990s when Alpha was being run in the parish and most recently during the the ealy 2000’s.
The 1960’s saw the introduction of the first version of the New Zealnd Prayer Book and the first service using this was held in 1967. There was mixed reaction to these new liturgies and when a questionnaire was undertaken there was a 50/50 split. This resulted in the earlier services using the Book of Common Prayer and the services later in the day using the New Zealand Prayer Book. Services using the New Zealand Prayer Book continue to be held at 9am and 5pm on Sunday’s and 10am on Thursdays.
Beacuse of its size and location All Saints often held Civic Services such as memorials for Queen Victoria in Febuary 1901 and Dick Seddon in June 1906, and a baptism service for the Govenor General’s son in 1908. Services of prayer were held during both World Wars and then in September 1919 a special thanskgiving service was held to mark the end of WWI which saw the church packed and overflowing onto the street which was followed by a Welcome Home social. Over the years the church was also used for rallies and reunions such as for the Wellington Regiment and was the site of many Capping services for Massey University and Teacher’s College.
With so many groups associated with All Saints special services have often been held to celebrate events with these groups. Children have always been extrememly imporatnt and often special children’s services were held. For example, in 1928 a service was held and 1,500 children and their families attended. Over the years there was a strong ministry to Guides, Scouts and Brownies and many church parades were held. Groups such as the Mother’s Union would often gather at All Saints and as part of their gathering they would have a service. In 1968 lunchtime teaching services were held to address the relevance of Christianity in a changing world and many office workers attended.
The first service of ordination was held in 1908 followed by others in 1950, 1956, 1957 and 1973. More recently there have been two ordination services, one in. 2022 for Rev Bex Hickman to Decan and and one in 2024 for the Rev Victoria Sibley-Bentley to the Priesthood
As a part of the Anglican tradition the church has always been the centre for baptisms, confirmations, marriages and funerals. Sometimes there were increased uptake in these services. For example, there was a rush in May 1914 for weddings and baptisms as people hoped to have their ceremonies in the new brick church. Again in the 1990’s it was not uncommon for three weddings to be held each Saturday due to the beauty and size of the church. On a rather sadder note there was a massive increase in funerals with 84 being undertaken between November 1918 and January 1919 during the Spanish Influenza epidemic.
In time for the upcoming centenary a number of services and concerts were held in October 1974. The first service was on October 4th to rededication the organ that had been out of commission for a while. At this service the All Saints Choir were joined by the Palmerston North Choral Society as well as musicians from around the country. This was followed by a series of talks, teaching sessions, organ recitals and choral evensong services during the week of the 4-13th October.
In 1975 All Saints celebrated 100 years in style. As part of these celebrations All Saints had a Service of Thanksgiving on October 12th, a Pioneer Service on October 19th where the Māori Bishop preached to celerbate the heritage of the first Anglicans in the area. A service to recognise past parishioners was held on October 26th and a Family Eucharist on November 2nd. Banners for each of the daughter churches and the parishes that devloped from All Saints were created and used in the procession. Aside from these services there was also a Centential Dinner, Centenial Ball, Parish Picnic, Organ and Orchestral Concert, a tour of the city and a Choral Festival
In 2025 All Saints celebrates 150 years since the first Anglican service in Palmerston North. The story boards and this digital history are part of this celebration