Sunday Worship at 8:30 & 10:30 am · Details

  400 Saint Johns Ave., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043  ·   (904) 284-5434  ·   Give

St. Mary's Episcopal Church
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Parish History

St. Mary’s was organized as a mission church of the Diocese of Florida in 1878. The Bishop of the Diocese, The Right Rev. John Freeman Young, appointed a committee to raise funds for the erection of the church building. The Bishop obtained architectural plans for the church from Charles C. Haight from New York. The first service was held in St. Mary’s sanctuary on March 10, 1879. The Rev. Dr. Aspinwall of New York City officiated at the service. The following year (1880) the tower and spire were added.

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The site on which St. Mary’s is located was a gift of the Thaddeus David family, and at that time was valued at $500. The stained glass windows in the sanctuary, which cost $1,100 when the church was built, were given by the Dore family. They are from the Colgate Studio in New York.

St. Mary’s was consecrated March 26, 1892, by the Right Reverend Edwin Gardiner Weed, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Webb of Philadelphia. The original vessels for Holy Communion are still used in the services today. St. Mary’s was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites in 1979. In 2002, the Parish Hall was also placed on the National Register.

St. Mary’s Parish Hall was originally an Army Chapel (Type CH - 1) at Camp Blanding, Florida. The framing of the hall proper is laminated wood arches, about twelve feet on centers, made of one inch lumber about ten inches wide. The building, when it was moved, was placed on foundation walls of reinforced concrete. It is a beautiful space inside, with the original pine wood floors and wood chapel-hall_23chandeliers. The windows are a tinted glass, which provides a warm glow inside. At the time of the move, asbestos siding shingles were placed over wood lap siding, an extension of the kitchen was added, and a room overlooking the river was attached to the side of the building in 1953. The interior, however, is relatively unchanged.

Parish records indicate that over 200 local individuals and businesses contributed to the effort to move the Chapel to the property of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in late 1948. From that time, it has served the community and the church as a meeting place. There are many stories of different uses of the building. At one time, the local Junior High School held its dances in the Hall.

Historic St. Mary's


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400 Saint Johns Ave. · Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
(904) 284-5434
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Service Times

At the Red Doors by the River

  • Sunday services 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
  • Wednesday Noonday Prayer & Eucharist, with healing prayer at 12 noon

For Outdoor Worship

Bring your portable chairs for our informal, outdoor worship service. We will have extra chairs to set up for those unable to bring their own. It is often warm so please dress casually, wear a hat, bring a bottle water, wear your masks and remember to socially distance.

For Indoor Worship

If you will be attending indoor Sunday Morning Worship, please remember to:

  • Wear your masks and remember to socially distance
  • Follow all signs and directions
  • Enter the parish hall through the river room doors
  • Exit the parish hall through the red front doors
  • Remember to maintain 6 feet of social distancing at all times
  • Please bring canned goods for the food pantry, the red wagon will be out!


Location

St. Mary's Episcopal Church
400 Saint Johns Ave.
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043

Contact Us
(904) 284-5434

Newsletter Signup

Welcome First Visit Children Joining St. Mary's

Welcome and thank you for visiting our St Mary’s website! We hope you will find helpful information here about our parish. We invite everyone to “Come to the River” because we believe what you will find here is a genuine welcome, a real community of people from all walks of life who come together for worship designed to empower and nurture disciples to serve the world in Jesus’ name. St. Mary’s natural setting is infused with the beauty of God’s creation, peace and renewal. So, look around our web site. Then come and join our journey of faith and see God at work in our midst on the banks of the St. John’s River in Green Cove Springs Florida.

When you come into the church, you’ll encounter steps or a ramp that will take you to the Red doors and the front porch of the church. There might be ushers, greeters and worship leaders there to welcome you and offer you a bulletin. The bulletin will help you know what’s happening in the service. As you enter the church you find yourself in our NARTHEX (that’s Episco-speak for entryway) and that is where we keep our sign-up sheets, newcomer information and where the coloring sheets for the children are located. We look forward to greeting you!

Learn more about our worship!

If you have YOUNG PEOPLE, they are welcome! Young people are an integral part of our life together at St. Mary's. They aren't just the future of the church, they are the church today!

Learn More about Children and Youth Programs


Come as you are to one of our three weekly services:

  • Sunday Mornings - Holy Eucharist Rite II - 8:30 am & 10:30 am
  • Wednesdays - Holy Eucharist Rite II with Healing Prayer - 12:00 pm
Worship Services

We often get asked how I do I “join” St. Mary’s? The short answer is: come to St. Mary’s! We welcome anyone and everyone to join us for worship on Sunday mornings or at any of our church activities. We believe that first and foremost, membership in the Church means being part of a community that is drawn ever more deeply into relationship with God and our neighbor through Jesus Christ.”

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Here I Am, Send Me

We ask you to prayerfully consider your pledge for 2022 remembering that stewardship provides the largest part of the church’s income. Your pledge allows the church to start the new year on a solid financial foundation. We all have much to be grateful for and your Stewardship Committee is especially grateful for you and your commitment to St. Mary’s.

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