Name St
Mary’s Parish, Burlington
Founded 1702
Parishioners 350
Rector The Reverend J. Connor Haynes
Three words to describe the parish Catholic, traditional, active
Why visit St Mary’s is a beautiful place with a sense of the continuity of faith and of worship. Our liturgy is formal, but we’re not stuffy; casual dress is common. Teaching and preaching stress the historic faith of the church, yet encouraging personal growth and the need to look beyond our parish to the community, nation, and world. We’ve a very ac tive Sunday School program, involving young people in our worship regularly. The congregation is welcoming, growing, and caring!
Accomplishment
you’re proud of Restoring Old St Mary’s, the
oldest Episcopal church in New Jersey. The 1703 structure had fallen
into disrepair and disuse. It’s now preserved not only as an
important historical object, but as a facility for the parish and
the community. 
Key event in history Early on Maundy Thursday 1976, St Mary’s New Church was devastated by a fire started through the carelessness of a contractor. For three years the congregation met in Old St Mary’s until the New Church was ready for re-occupation on Easter 1979. For yet another ten years massive attention and energy were focussed on the rebuilding. But all in all it had a unifying effect on the congregation. The event made an indelible impression on the community; people still recall it clearly after more than two decades.
Greatest challenge Attracting new members and incorporating them in the parish. Too many people attend services or bring their children to Sunday School, but have little further involvement in the church. We’re working on that.
Theme hymn I must name two: “The Church’s One Foundation” and “Fling Out the Banner”.
<For more on St Mary’s Church, see the parish web site. This will open in a new browser window.>