History
On May 24, 1844, the parish was organized under the name of St. Mary’s Church, and services were held in various school buildings until a small church was built in early 1846 with the help of the Cheney brothers near the present site of Center Congregational. Later that year, the church moved to North Manchester to be closer to the majority of its members. In 1847, the parish encountered financial difficulties, the church was dissolved, and the building was sold.
On May 24, 1844, the parish was organized under the name of St. Mary’s Church, and services were held in various school buildings until a small church was built in early 1846 with the help of the Cheney brothers near the present site of Center Congregational. Later that year, the church moved to North Manchester to be closer to the majority of its members. In 1847, the parish encountered financial difficulties, the church was dissolved, and the building was sold.
The members reunited in June 1851 and joined the Episcopal Church, establishing the Parish of St. Mary’s. During the period 1852 through 1869, the church struggled to survive, abandoning regular services and then re-establishing them, and finally closing in 1869. In the early 1870’s, members began worshiping in people’s homes. The church then purchased Center Academy from the Freemasons and moved the altar and pulpit from the old building to this new site. Regular services were re-established on April 5, 1874 (Easter). Five years later, a building committee was chosen to collect funds to build a new church. On June 26, 1882, a cornerstone was laid for the church on a site donated by the Cheney brothers. The first service in the church was held on March 25, 1883 (Easter), and the church was consecrated on June 7, 1884.
(Photo: 1955 Ground Breaking)
In 1923, a building program was begun for a new church, but the Depression slowed the financing of the project. The effort to build a new church was revitalized in 1953, and ground was broken for the present church at the 10:00 a.m. service on July 10, 1955. Six months later, Bishop Walter H. Gray laid the cornerstone, and the new building (located on the corner of Park Street and Church Street) was dedicated on September 5, 1956. Bishop J. Warren Hutchens consecrated the church on November 3, 1971.
Campus
Our church was constructed in the mid-1950s, when St. Mary’s had outgrown its original 19th century church. The main space can accommodate 350 people, and a small chapel off to one side is used for smaller services, such as Morning Prayer. The main church is connected to the former church structure, which now houses Sunday School classrooms. The original sanctuary of the older church, which contains several historic stained glass windows (including a Tiffany window) was renovated in 2009 and reconsecrated as “Resurrection Chapel.”
Our church was constructed in the mid-1950s, when St. Mary’s had outgrown its original 19th century church. The main space can accommodate 350 people, and a small chapel off to one side is used for smaller services, such as Morning Prayer. The main church is connected to the former church structure, which now houses Sunday School classrooms. The original sanctuary of the older church, which contains several historic stained glass windows (including a Tiffany window) was renovated in 2009 and reconsecrated as “Resurrection Chapel.”
Adjacent to the 19th century structure is a function space that had been the Parish Hall. Now called Anderson Hall, the space includes a full kitchen and a conference room.
The basement of the 1950s-era church is a large, open space known as Neill Hall. This, too, includes a large kitchen, as well as a raised stage. The basements of the old and new church are connected by corridors, off of which are several smaller spaces, including the Music Room, storage areas, a boiler room and restrooms.
The original rectory, now called the Williams Building, is separated from the other structures by a small parking lot. The two-story Williams Building houses the church offices and a small conference room. Next door to the Williams Building is 33 Park Street which is a two-family rental property.
The campus also includes a relatively new, landscaped Memorial Garden, where several parishioners have chosen to have their ashes interred.