| Description | Stevenage was the first New Town to be built in the UK under the 1946 New Towns Act. Pin Green, begun in 1965, was the largest neighbourhood built by the Stevenage Development Corporation, with the Oval Community Centre forming part of the The Oval shopping precinct in the centre of town. When it was finally built, the church of All Saints formed part of the Oval Community Centre, comprising a hall, kitchen, coffee bar, licensed club bar, committee room and offices, as well as the church itself. Although each denomination paid for its own ministers, the appointment of new ministers was subject to ecumenical consultation.
Stevenage Council of Churches first began considering closer cooperation between the churches in 1965, and planning for a shared church in Pin Green began in 1967. Originally, a building for Free Church worshippers and Anglicans was envisaged, with the assumption that the Roman Catholics would have a seperate church. However, in October 1970, the Diocese of Westmintser decided to set up a new Catholic parish of Pin Green, and appointed Fr Charles Farrell of the Society of St Edmund as parish priest. The Catholic Church now took a more active role in planning for a shared church and in 1971, it was agreed that a more broadly-based ecumenical church would encompass the Church of England, the Methodists, and the Roman Catholic Church. Each denomination gave its support by making a financial commitment and appointing clergy to work in this area. A plan for the new church, incorporating the Catholic congregation, was drawn up and approved in Spring 1971. Building on the site started in November 1972.
In 1973, an Ecumenical Council, with 5 members from each participating denomination, was appointed to organise and administer the Church, and a Sharing Agreement was signed. The building is owned by a limited Company representing all denominational interests. A Sponsoring Body was also set up in 1973 and a Declaration of Intent agreed stating the overall prurpose of the shared church. Implementation of the Declaration and liaison with the Sponsoring Body were also the responsibility of the Ecumenical Council. which met monthly following its formation.
The building was first used on 6 July 1974 and formally opened and dedicated on Saturday 21 September that year. The building was officially opened by Dame Evelyn Dennington, the chair of Stevenage Development Corporation, and the church was dedicated by 3 members of the Sponsoring Body; the Anglican Bishop of St Albans, Robert Runcie (later Archbishop of Canterbury); the Roman Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, Christopher Butler; and the chairman of the Methodist London North-West District, Jack Kaye.
In 2008 The Anglicans and Methodists agreed to work more closely with each other and now worship together as a single congregation. In 2013 the Roman Catholics ceased holding Mass at the church, largely due to a shortage of priests, both locally and nationally.
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