ST. MARY'S CHURCH

St. Mary’s Church was built atop a high point of granite in 1853 by farmers who tilled the land known as the Peaceable Kingdom. Back then the Church afforded commanding views as far away as Long Island Sound. But the difficult, rocky soil eventually made farming unprofitable and the chestnuts, maples and hemlocks took root again. 

Today, St. Mary's stands, resplendent in its simplicity, as a place where friends and neighbors of many faiths gather for evening services. Each service is a unique experience, featuring religious and civic speakers of diverse backgrounds, music, and quiet reflection in a historic setting surrounded by woods and rural roads that remain virtually unchanged in over 170 years. The rector of St. Matthew’s continues as the rector, although St. Mary's has its own Vestry and is maintained by volunteers. St. Mary's Church shares an enduring relationship of fellowship and community with Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills. Every October, Antioch hosts a joint service of the three congregations at Antioch's historic church.
 
Services are held at St. Mary’s during the fall and spring on select Sundays at 5:30 pm, and on Thanksgiving Eve and December 23rd for Christmas. Services are led by clergy, lay readers and parishioners of St. Matthew’s and Antioch Baptist Church, with diverse civic and religious leaders as guest speakers at each service. Many parishioners have chosen to be married, or have their children baptized, at St. Mary's Church in this rural corner of Bedford known as the Peaceable Kingdom.

2024 Schedule of Services and Speakers