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Saint Mary's School News

Saint Mary's joins 2019 Episcopal Schools Celebration week

Saint Mary's joins the National Association of Episcopal Schools in the 2019 Episcopal Schools Celebration, Oct. 6-12, celebrating the ministry of the nearly 1,200 Episcopal schools and early childhood education programs throughout the Episcopal Church.

Observed the week beginning with the first Sunday in October, Episcopal Schools Celebration highlights an aspect of Episcopal school identity and mission through the event's theme, as we give thanks for the work of our schools. This year's theme is "For God is at Work in You." Philippians 2:13

Since the school’s founding in 1842 by Episcopal clergy, Saint Mary’s rich Episcopal heritage has informed the school’s values and called us to respect the dignity of every human being and strive for justice and peace among all people.

The Saint Mary’s Chapel, a National Historic Site, is the center of the school’s spiritual life and community. The Chapel, built in 1856, was designed by renowned church architect Richard Upjohn, who also designed Trinity Church Wall Street and Christ Church in downtown Raleigh.

The first Saint Mary’s chapel service was held in Smedes Parlor on opening day, May 12, 1842. After that first service, chapel was held on the first floor of East Rock. The room had and altar, an organ, and pews that could seat 150 people, and was used for 15 years before the Cameron family supported the construction of our Chapel in the Grove. The Chapel was originally brown with plain glass windows. The transepts were added in 1905 to meet the needs of a growing school.

Today, all students and their advisors gather in Chapel twice each week to worship through song, prayer, silence, and reflection. Boarders also attend a Sunday night vespers service, to which all are invited. The chaplain, an Episcopal priest, and a student-led Vestry oversee these 30-minute services, which are based on the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. As a wide variety of people speak during Chapel, a variety of perspectives are expressed, though all tend to affirm an understanding of something larger than ourselves.

From the very beginning, chapel and the Episcopal heritage have been the heart of Saint Mary’s.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s Episcopal Schools Celebration week, God is truly at work at Saint Mary’s School. Our love from God and God’s love for us leads us to be a community of honor, integrity and service.