ALL SAINTS AND ALL SOULS

St Paul referred to Christians as 'saints', from the Latin word 'Sanctus' meaning holy. Martyrs were the first to be commemorated, mainly at their tombs where churches were often built. These became places of pilgrimage. The feast of all those who had been killed for their faith in Christ first came from the Eastern Church. Bishop Maximus of Turin brought it to the West in the 4th century, and it was celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. That was to link the disciples who received the Holy Spirit with the martyrs who were witnesses to the faith.

In May 610 AD the Pantheon in Rome was dedicated to St Mary and the Martyrs. By the end of the 7th century the feast was being described as for all the saints, and Pope Gregory III (731 - 741 AD) dedicated a chapel in St Peters to all the saints. He did that on November 1st; after this the feast on that date spread throughout Europe. In England it was known as All Hallows or Hallowmas. Over 1,000 churches are dedicated to All Saints. Three local ones are in West Parley, Hampreston and St Ives.

All Souls, commemorating all the faithful departed was not a separate feast in the early church. There were prayers for the dead on some catacomb walls in Rome, but nothing more was done until the 7th century. It was then decided to have special masses and prayers for the dead on the Monday after Pentecost. This was because it was believed that most people did not go straight to Heaven when they died. Such devotions would help them to do so. At first this was limited to monks, then from the 11th century it was for everyone, and was moved to November 2nd.

People believed that the dead waiting for Heaven, in Purgatory, could come back to haunt the living as ghosts, witches and toads. Money, special cakes and fruit had to be given to the Church to placate them.
Few places are dedicated to All Souls. The most famous are All Souls College, Oxford, and All Souls Church, Langham Place in London.