religion_

St. Mary's Marking 75th Anniversary

STONE HARBOR - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the oldest church in the borough (it was built one year before St. Paul's Roman Catholic), is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Recalling the church beginnings, the congregation, at last Sunday's service, used the 1892 prayer book which was in use at the time the church was built in 1910. A 75th anniversary dinner was held for members and friends of St. Mary's last Wednesday at the Whitebrier in Avalon. The church had its beginnings in 1909, when Stone Harbor had a small summer population and was virtually deserted in the winter. A number of summer residents organized Sunday services conducted by vacationing Episcopal clergy. The following year, a realty firm donated a plot of land, and the wife of developer David Risley started a building fund drive. A CHURCH was erected in 1910 on the site at 95th and Third Avenue. DesignChristian Science CAPE MAY - Sunday morning services by the Christian Science Society of Cape May are held 11 o'clock in the Community Center, 405 Lafayette St. The subject of this week's lesson will be "Unreality". 'The Jesus Effect' COURT HOUSE - Sunday worship is held by Trinity Fellowship Assembly of God at 10 a.m. at Arbutus Lodge, two doors north of the Court House Motel on Route 9. This week Pastor Richard G. Green Jr. continues a series of sermons called "Acts Alive" with a message titled "The Jesus Effect". A nursery and Junior Church for children through third grade is provided. Sunday at 7 p.m. a prayer and praise service is held at the church parsonage, 1563 Route 9, Swainton (two doors South of Radio Station W.W.O.C.). Wednesday a Bible study is held at 7:30 p.m. at the same location. For further information call Pastor Green at 465-3761.

ed by architect H.B. Reinbold, the cedar-shingled frame structure cost $6,000 to build. It was dedicated July 2, 1911, by Suffragan Bishop Garland. For many years the church was known locally as "St. Mary's-by-the-Sea". The structure was consecrated July 30, 1917, by the Rt. Rev. Paul Matthews, fifth Bishop of New Jersey. ST, MARY'S continued to grow, and in order to accommodate the visiting clergy an adjoining rectory was erected in 1927. At that time the land cost $1,000 and the house was built for $4,000. With the aid of a donation from Anne L. Wilmerton, the present church building was enlarged in 1931. At St. Mary's annual meeting in 1933, Bishop Banyard discussed the idea of winterizing the church. The sum of $2,000 was allocated for the purpose. THE SAME YEAR. E. Thomas Higgons, a seminarian, began holding services during the off season. A retired priest came once a month to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Upon his ordination in 1955, Fr. Higgons became the vicar. He had already started to organize a choir, an altar guild, a women's guild, and a church school. St. Mary's continued its expansion, and in 1958, a sacristy, choir room, parish hall, and kitchen were added. THE CHURCH was incorporated as a parish in January, 1967. During that year further improvements to the church were made. In 1971 a Moller Pipe Organ was installed. A memorial endowment fund was established in 1975. In the 1980s, many changes were made in the physical structure of the church. A building improvement program was created and monies donated to the fund were used to finance many projects. AMONG THESE was the addition of folding partitions in the parish hall, which gave additional privacy to both the choir and the church school. A new roof has been installed on the church, the parish hall, and on the rectory. Other improvements have included the repainting of the church exterior, purchase of a new boiler, and the installation of new sidewalks. THIS YEAR, at a cost of approximately $17,000, a much-needed narthex and an outside ramp were added to the church building.

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From a handful of followers, the membership has grown to more than 250. Of these, about 40 percent live in Stone Harbor, and 30 percent in Avalon. The remaining parishioners make their homes in the surrounding communities. Spiritual leadership has been provided, as mentioned, by vacationing clergymen in the summer 1909-1952; by Fr. Higgons, as a seminarian, with yearround Sunday services 1953-54, and celebration of the Holy Eucharist once a month by the Rev. Edwin E. Smythe, (ret). SINCE THEN. St. Mary's has been served by: The Rev. E. Thomas Higgons, 1955-58; the Rev. George Freifeld, 1959-64; The Rev. Edward S. Sykes, 1964-1967; the Rev. William St. John Frederick, 1967-73; the Rev. William Guerazzi (ret), 1973-74; the Rev. Ronald A. Morton, 1974-78; the Rev. Canon J. Perry Cox, 1979-80; the Rev. Wesley H. Martin, 1980 to the present. Rosary Rally VILLAS -A Rosary Rally will be held 1 p.m. Sunday. Oct. 13. at St. Raymond's Roman Catholic Church. Bayshore Road and Ocean Avenue. All are welcome. V1'1 . ./ 'I! Cold Spring Communion COLD SPRING - World Wide Communion Sunday will be observed during the 11 a.m. worship service at the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, on Seashore Road. The Rev. Fred L. Rhody will preach a sermon entitled "I Call You Friends." Sunday School takes place in Price Hall at 9:30 A.M. with an adult class meeting in the church. Coffee time follows. Nursery care is available during the service. The organ prelude begins at 10:45 a.m. First Baptist, i Court House , COURT HOUSE - Rev. Jerry Heslinga will lead in ' worship at the First Baptist ) Church, 101 S. Main St., 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Junior Church is provided for children ages 4-third grade. Sunday School begins at 10:45 a.m. Evening service is at 7 o'clock Wednesday evenings at 7 ' a prayer and Bible time is ) observed. h

Doris Ward Photo DIAMOND JUBILEE FOR CHURCH — Father Wesley Marin, rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Stone Harbor, in front of church. Parish is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

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