About All Saints · Taylorsville, Kentucky
All Saints Roman Catholic Church is a small but vibrant Catholic mission in the heart of Taylorsville, Kentucky — the only Catholic church in Spencer County, located about 40 minutes southeast of Louisville. Founded in 1830 under Father James Elliott, it grew from ten families into a registered parish of roughly 190 households serving more than 400 parishioners, while keeping the close-knit, rural feel of a small-town church. The parish is part of the Archdiocese of Louisville, worships in a historic Gothic Revival church listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is known for its long-standing covenant with the local United Methodist and Disciples of Christ congregations.
- Established
- 1830
- Patron
- All Saints
- Rector
- Rev. Kirby B. Rust
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Louisville
Why belong here
All Saints offers the kind of close, rural parish life where most people know one another, while still giving families a full Catholic life — daily and Sunday Mass, regular confession, religious education for all ages, a service-oriented youth ministry, and decades-old covenant relationships with the town's United Methodist and Disciples of Christ congregations. Set in a historic Gothic Revival church on a hillside in Spencer County, it is a place where a newcomer is genuinely welcomed as part of an Old Kentucky Home.
Mass times at All Saints
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday — 8:00 a.m. (before Mass)
- Thursday — 8:00 a.m. (before Mass)
- See priest before weekend Mass
Welcome to All Saints
All Saints describes itself as a small but vibrant parish in the heart of Taylorsville, Kentucky, forty minutes southeast of Louisville in Spencer County. The parish invites visitors on a 'scenic drive some weekend to join us as we learn, celebrate and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ,' worshipping God 'in word, deed and sacrament' and serving the needs of the local community, the country, and the world. The parish works to foster spiritual growth, reconciliation, and harmony — especially with its covenant churches and all of God's people — and invites newcomers to 'make us part of your Old Kentucky Home.'
- 410 Main Cross, Taylorsville, KY 40071
- Phone: 502-477-6676 · Fax: 502-477-5278
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Our History
Catholic faith in Spencer County traces back to 1805, when Father Stephen Badin — the first priest ordained in the United States — rode through central Kentucky saying Masses in private homes around Little Mount. Father Charles Nerinckx succeeded him in 1808 and in 1815 built St. Benedict, a log church on land owned by Henry and Fanny Newman, establishing a cemetery that the parish still maintains. After Spencer County was formed in 1824 and Taylorsville became the county seat, Father James Elliott — pastor of St. Michael at Fairfield — was named in 1829 to also lead the Taylorsville mission. All Saints was built in the 1830s on a hillside in Taylorsville and dedicated in 1841 by Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget. Father Michael Dillon Lawler became its first resident pastor in 1862.
- Predecessor: St. Benedict Church at Little Mount, built 1815 by Fr. Nerinckx
- All Saints built in the 1830s; dedicated 1841 by Bishop Flaget
- First resident pastor: Fr. Michael Dillon Lawler (1862)
- One of the oldest extant Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Louisville
Pastoral History of All Saints
Throughout its history All Saints has alternated between having a resident pastor and being served as a mission from neighboring parishes: St. Michael at Fairfield, St. Francis Xavier at Mt. Washington, the Church of the Annunciation at Shelbyville, and St. Gregory at Samuels. From 1910 to 1921 the parish was administered by a community of Passionist Fathers (C.P.). A particularly important tie has been with St. Michael in Fairfield, where All Saints children attended school for many years — a relationship that resumed in 2017 when Father John R. Johnson Jr. was assigned as pastor of both parishes. Since June 2023 the parish has been served by Father Kirby Rust, who also serves as chaplain of Bethlehem High School.
- 1910–1921: Passionist Fathers administered the parish
- 2017–2021: Fr. John R. Johnson Jr., resident pastor of All Saints and St. Michael
- 2021–2023: Fr. Brandon DeToma
- 2023–present: Fr. Kirby Rust
The Church Building & Little Mount Cemetery
The All Saints church was built between about 1830 and 1843 in the Gothic Revival style on the east side of Jefferson Street between Park Alley and Red Row Alley in Taylorsville, on a hillside above the town. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 2, 1992 (NRHP #92000302), recognized as one of the oldest extant Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Louisville and an early example of Gothic Revival church architecture in small-town Kentucky. The parish also maintains the historic St. Benedict Cemetery at Little Mount, whose oldest marked stone, dated 1816, bears only the initials HN — possibly a young son of Henry and Fanny Newman.
Our Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The parish is served by a small team of clergy, deacons, and lay staff. Father Kirby B. Rust is the pastor; Father Hillary Chumo, F.M.H., serves as associate. Two permanent deacons — Carl A. Fahringer and Peter 'Pete' Rendon — assist with pastoral care, with Deacon Rendon also serving as pastoral assistant. Becky Culver is Director of Religious Education, Donna Gahlinger is secretary, Mary Creed is bookkeeper, and the Music Minister position is currently open.
- Pastor: Rev. Kirby B. Rust
- Associate: Rev. Hillary Chumo, F.M.H.
- Permanent Deacons: Carl A. Fahringer and Peter 'Pete' Rendon (Pastoral Assistant)
- Director of Religious Education: Becky Culver
- Secretary: Donna Gahlinger
- Bookkeeper: Mary Creed
- Music Minister: Open
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
All Saints offers 'comprehensive faith formation for all ages' under the direction of Becky Culver, the parish's Director of Religious Education. The parish's youth ministry is described by the Archdiocese of Louisville as 'service-oriented,' and parish youth have participated in activities such as the Cardboard Charity Campout (a homelessness-awareness fundraiser) and the archdiocesan Quest retreat. A joint All Saints/SFX men's retreat has also been offered in recent years.
- Religious Education for all ages — contact Becky Culver
- Youth Ministry: Quest retreat, Cardboard Charity Campout
- Youth group leader: Laura Zoeller
- Joint All Saints / St. Francis Xavier Men's Retreat
Ecumenical Covenant & Community Outreach
Since 1986, All Saints has shared a formal covenant with Taylorsville United Methodist Church and the First Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church. The three congregations regularly hold a joint Vacation Bible School, joint prayer services, and other interfaith activities — an unusual and long-standing witness in a county where Catholics are a small minority among Protestants. The parish's youth have also engaged in service projects such as the Cardboard Charity Campout, collecting blankets, hygiene items, and food for those experiencing homelessness.
- Covenant with Taylorsville United Methodist Church since 1986
- Covenant with First Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church
- Joint Vacation Bible School
- Joint prayer services
Visit Us & Contact
All Saints is located at 410 Main Cross in downtown Taylorsville, Kentucky (mailing address: P.O. Box 531, Taylorsville, KY 40071-0531). The parish office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: (502) 477-6676. Fax: (502) 477-5278. Email: [email protected]. The parish's website is http://www.allsaintstville.org/.
- Address: 410 Main Cross, Taylorsville, KY 40071
- Mailing: P.O. Box 531, Taylorsville, KY 40071-0531
- Office: Tue–Thu, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Phone: (502) 477-6676 · Fax: (502) 477-5278
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: http://www.allsaintstville.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen Badin1805–1808
Said early Masses in private homes around Little Mount; first priest ordained in the United States.
- Rev. Charles Nerinckx1808–1815+
Built St. Benedict log church at Little Mount in 1815.
- Rev. James Elliott1829–1846+
First pastor of All Saints; built the church; also served St. Michael, Fairfield; founded St. Francis Xavier, Mt. Washington (1846).
- Rev. Michael Dillon Lawler1862–1868
First resident pastor of All Saints; from Shelbyville.
- Rev. James P. Ryan1869–1879
From Bardstown.
- Rev. Eugene O'Callaghan1871–1875
Pastor at St. Michael, Fairfield and All Saints.
- Rev. Herman W. Jansen1875–1882
Moved to Taylorsville (1876) as resident pastor.
- Rev. Thomas F. Gambon1882–1883
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Daniel J. McShane1883–1884
Resident pastor; served again 1889–1891.
- Rev. Joseph A. O'Grady1884–1889
Resident pastor.
- Rev. James F. A. Donahue1891–1892
From Shelbyville.
- Rev. J. Edward Chapius1892–1894
- Rev. John B. Peifer1894–1897
- Rev. Michael F. Melody1897–1898
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Richard Davis1898–1900
Pastor of St. Michael, Fairfield; All Saints added 1898–1900.
- Rev. John J. Fitzgerald1900–1901
From Shelbyville 1895–1905.
- Rev. Benedict J. Wight1901–1902
Resident pastor.
- Rev. William D. Pike1902–1904
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Theodore H. Reverman1904–1905
Resident pastor; also served St. Edward, Jeffersontown.
- Rev. Peter Breintner / Rev. James F. Norman / Rev. John J. Neafsey1905–1910
Co-resident pastors; also served Mt. Washington mission.
- Passionist Fathers (C.P.) — Ambrose Stemmler, James McDonald, Fabian Kelly, Vincent Ethinger, Athanasius Schwingler1910–1921
Passionist community administered the parish.
- Rev. James J. Maloney1921–1927
Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints.
- Rev. Simon W. Luly1927–1928
From Mt. Washington.
- Rev. Felix N. Pitt1928–1929
Pastor at St. Gregory (Samuels) and All Saints.
- Rev. Cornelius Leo Smith1929–1932
Served St. Gregory (Samuels), All Saints, and three Bullitt County missions.
- Rev. Charles C. Bolderick1932–1933
From Samuels.
- Rev. Martin L. Price1933–1945
Also Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints from 1935.
- Rev. Ehrich J. Stuart1946–1951
Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints.
- Rev. Charles P. Foltz1951–1956
Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints.
- Rev. Martin J. Frankenberger1956–1963
Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints.
- Rev. Henry G. Vessels1964–
From Mt. Washington.
- Rev. Joseph A. Prendiville1972–1974
From Mt. Washington.
- Rev. Clarence Nord1974–1977
Pastor at St. Michael (Fairfield) and All Saints.
- Rev. John E. Jones1977–1985
Resident pastor; rectory on Little Mount Road.
- Rev. Thomas Clark1985–1990
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Donald Ryan1990–2001
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Robert Stuempel2001–2002
Resident pastor.
- Rev. Joseph Vest2002–2004
Resident pastor; served Fairfield; died October 2004.
- Rev. Scott Wimsett2004–2011
From Mt. Washington.
- Rev. Paul Beach2011–2012
From Mt. Washington.
- Rev. R. Dale Cieslik2012–2017
From Mt. Washington; Archdiocesan Historian since 1994.
- Rev. John R. Johnson Jr.2017–2021
Resident pastor of All Saints and St. Michael (Fairfield).
- Rev. Brandon DeToma2021–2023
Resident pastor of All Saints and St. Michael (Fairfield).
- Rev. Kirby Rust06/2023–
Pastor of All Saints and St. Michael (Fairfield); also serves as chaplain of Bethlehem High School.