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The cornerstone of Saint Mary's was laid on September 2, 1847, by
Bishop John H. K. Henshaw. The church, and over eighty acres of
land, were given by Miss Sarah Gibbs of Oakland, Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, as a "humble thank-offering to God for innumerable bounties
of His Providence and Grace."
St. Mary's Church - 1850
drawing by John P. Newell of Newport, RI
Miss Gibbs had long been
interested in the welfare of the Church people of the Island.
Beginning before 1843 she started several projects to bring the
Church to the people of Middletown and Portsmouth. Several places
were used for worship while looking for a suitable place for a
church and seminary. The first regular services of Saint Mary's were
held on the Third Sunday of Advent, 1843. Finally, she bought the
old Potter Farm and had Saint Mary's built as a free-will offering
for all God's blessings to her, to further the Gospel, and to
maintain the doctrine of the Episcopal Church.
Sarah Gibbs, 1836
Miss Gibbs continually, with the
help of the first rector, the Reverend Hobart Williams, worked to
establish a seminary on Saint Mary's grounds. According to
tradition, Miss Gibbs set up her will to provide for a rectory,
seminary, school and parish house, but the will was never found, and
her estate was administered according to law.
The Reverend Hobart Williams' was the rector for over forty years.
Fifteen rectors have followed him.
The parish has continually grown and expanded as the need arose. One
interesting story is that with the death of Miss Sarah Gibbs the
rector found himself without a home, and because funds could not be
raised he had to personally finance the refurbishing of the old
farmhouse found on the property. Mrs. Williams sold the rectory to
the parish, after her husband's death, for one dollar as a token of
the love the rector and his wife had for the parish. In 1927 the
parish house was built in order to have educational and recreational
facilities for the parish. The Church School was founded about 1908.
Classrooms were added in 1959.
The present rectory, of Rhode Island colonial design, was built in
1936.
Saint Mary's church was designed by Richard Upjohn, an Englishman,
who designed Trinity Church, New York, the Church of the Holy Cross,
Middletown, and St. Stephen's Church and Grace Church, Providence.
He was also the architect of several of the larger houses built in
Newport around that period.
In 1970, Gibbs House, named in honor of the founder of the parish,
was built for the parish offices.
The Church has many beautiful
stained glass windows including the Ascension window which is
located behind the altar in the church. In 2004 the window underwent
a complete renovation. Please click on the Ascension window link
below to learn more about the installation of the restored Ascension
window.
On April 22, 2007 St. George’s
Episcopal Church, Newport, joined
with St. Mary’s for
shared ministry, worship, fellowship and formation.
The Churchyard
Surrounding the church is the churchyard and cemetery. The oldest
gravestone in the churchyard is dated 1797. Some of the interesting
gravestones are those of General James Parker, winner of the
Congressional Medal of Honor, Admiral Stephen B. Luce, founder of
the U.S. Naval War College, The Right Reverend Thomas March Clark,
Bishop of Rhode Island and Presiding Bishop of the United States,
and Sarah Gibbs.
St.
Mary's By-Laws |
