Diocese of Rochester: Church closes doors after refusing to pay dues
9/24/06

An Irondequoit church sued by the Episcopal Diocese was forced to close it's doors. For the first time, since the legal battle began, All Saints Church did not have Sunday services. The church sign was taken down and the doors were locked. The church is back in the hands of the Episcopal Diocese.

A few days ago, a judge ordered All Saints Church to turn over church property and records to the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester.

The church was thrown out of the diocese last year after refusing to pay dues. The church refused to pay to protest the decision by the diocese to ordain a gay priest in New Hampshire in 2003.

After being dissolved, All Saints became affiliated with a Conservative Anglican Church based in Uganda. Church officials continued to hold services in Rochester and refused to turn over the keys. In March of this year, the diocese filed a lawsuit to get its property back. the rest

photo by Raymond Dague