The story of St. Mary’s began in 1951, driven by a small group of West Columbia Episcopalians who traveled to St. John’s in Brazoria for worship. Recognizing the need for a local church, they began meeting in their homes to pray, plan, and build a vision for a new spiritual home. Humble BeginningsTheir efforts led to a formal petition, approved by Bishop Quinn, to establish St. Mary’s Mission. In those early days, the community gathered on Wednesday nights in a local school auditorium for covered-dish suppers and inspiring talks, while continuing to attend Sunday services in Brazoria. As the mission grew, the congregation purchased property and initially held services in a small frame house. While this served as a starting point, the unairconditioned space was quickly outgrown.
Building a Foundation Thanks to the generous initial support of Kitty Nash Groce, followed by the tireless dedication and fundraising of our members, the church Sanctuary was completed in 1953. The Parish Hall and classrooms soon followed, and the congregation worked with joy to furnish and prepare the space for worship and fellowship.
A Legacy of Leadership Our spiritual journey has been guided by a dedicated succession of clergy. It began with seminary student John Donovan, who traveled to West Columbia each weekend to conduct early services. Through the years, we have been blessed by the ministry of:
Fr. Phil Leech
Fr. Ed Sterling
Fr. Charles Norfleet
Fr. Charles Roberts
Fr. Jim Morgan
Fr. Larry Walters
Fr. Peter M. Conaty
The Rev. Sharron Cox
As we honor this rich history of pastoral guidance, we currently look forward with great anticipation to calling our next Rector.We remain a vibrant community, confident that the future of St. Mary’s is bright as we continue our mission of faith and service.
