Religious battle in Attleboro
Saturday, February 3, 2007
By Richard C. Dujardin
Journal Religion Writer

ATTLEBORO — The fight between the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and a dissident congregation that voted last October to drop its ties to the diocese and to align itself with a more conservative diocese in Africa has taken a new turn.

Until last month, leaders of All Saints Anglican Church were expressing hope that they could still work out a deal with Massachusetts Episcopal Bishop Thomas Shaw that would allow them continued use of their beloved fortress-like building on North Main Street, through either a lease agreement or a purchase similar to the one worked out between Rhode Island Episcopal Bishop Geralyn Wolf and the former St. Andrew and St. Philip Church in Coventry last year.

But those hopes evaporated when the diocese informed the rector, the Rev. Lance Giuffrida, two weeks ago that he and other dissidents would only have a week to turn over the keys and clear out so as to make room for a congregation wanting to remain loyal and faithful to the Episcopal Church.

Stunned parishioners held a teary-eyed farewell service last Sunday — one in which the rector assured nearly 200 in attendance that they would soon have a new home. the rest