The Rev. Dr. Reuben Denton Nevius (1827-1913)

. . . from a tribute of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia published in The Living Church, February, 1914.

"His joy in plants and trees, and in the microscopic forms of life, kept his spirit fresh and buoyant. He lived near to nature's heart. He was a rare thinker and his theological conceptions were clear, practical, and wholly in accord with the Catholic faith. His life thus was in a double sense-inwardly in thought, and outwardly in converse, with nature, lived near to God.

The friends of his earlier years, those at least, who grew old along with him, were the friends of his later years, for he made friends and kept them; and few there are who have stood in the center of a wider circle of people, and esteemed and honored and loved, for the qualities that made up a true man, a true Christian, and a true priest. He has entered, we believe, into that Presence of his Lord who has for him that crown and the 'well done good and faithful servant.' "

The Rev. Dr. Reuben Denton Nevius (1827-1913)

St. Mary's Church: The Rev. Dr. Reuben Denton Nevius

St. Mary's history began with the formation of a Mission Station on West Fowl River at least by 1869. The first priest-in-charge was the Rev. Dr. Reuben Denton Nevius (1827-1913). Dr. Nevius was born in Ovid, New York and received his A.B. from Union College, Schenectady, New York. Ordained deacon in 1853 by Bishop Stephen Elliot of Georgia and priested by the Rt. Rev. Nicholas Hamner Cobbs, Bishop of Alabama at St. Paul's Church, Carlowville in 1854; Dr. Nevius was made rector of Christ Church, Tuscaloosa in 1855 and married Margaret Mercer Tuomey-daughter of his mentor Prof. Michael Tuomey of the University of Alabama-in 1867. Following work in Pennsylvania, Dr. Nevius returned to Alabama as the 4th Rector of St. John's, Mobile where he remained until 1872. It was while rector of St. John's that he began the work as St. Mary's priest-in-charge. Dr. Nevius also distinguished himself as a botanist and is credited with the discovery of several plant species including neviusia alabamensis - the Alabama Snow Wreath. Dr. Nevius died on Dec. 14, 1913 having founded more than 30 churches in Pennsylvania, Alabama, Oregon and Washington state.

Construction Pics - January 25, 2009 - Part 2

Construction Pics - January 25, 2009

St. Mary's Church: The Early Years

The founding of St. Mary's Church traces to the decade following the American Civil War. According to records of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, a mission station had been established on West Fowl River by 1869. A stable congregation had been gathered and a church was under construction. The Rt. Rev. Richard Hooker Wilmer, 2nd Bishop of the Diocese of Alabama, visited St. Mary's in early October, 1869 and made the following entry in the Bishop's Journal:

October 3d, 1869 (19th Sunday after Trinity) visited in company with the Rev. Dr. Nevius a mission station on West Fowl River, confirming nine persons and celebrating the Holy Communion. This was an occasion of peculiar interest. The people came from long distances and mostly on foot; the mothers with infants in their arms. Seldom had they been visited by a clergyman of the Church. But the children had been gathered into a Sunday School and a layman of the Church held regular services; and here were the accustomed fruits of faithful lay services. We worshipped in an abandoned tenement at the time of my visitation; but since that time a Church has been erected upon the shores of the river, and is now awaiting consecration. The mission station is under the charge of Rev. Dr. Nevius who has in many ways aided the people in their pious endeavors to build a Church for the worship of God.

Construction Pics - January 18, 2009 - Part 2

Construction Pics - Jan. 18, 2009

The New St. Mary's By-The-Sea