[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2012

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Church 
of St. Mary in Hampton Bays, New York as it celebrates one hundred 
years of ministry and worship. I offer my congratulations to the 
rector, wardens, vestry and congregation of St. Mary's Episcopal 
Church, a beautiful and historic church that stands as a testament to 
the devotion of its members.
  From its modest beginnings in the home of Earl B. Squires in 1912 to 
its present-day position as the first and most active partner in an 
outreach program to the East End's homeless, St. Mary's has been a 
vital part of the community. On March 26, 1912, the Reverend Samuel 
Centennial Fish conducted the first service in the home of Earl Squires 
opposite the present location of the church at 165 Ponquogue Avenue.
  In 1917, Virginia Taylor Hardy donated the property and present 
church, nestled amid a grove of oak trees, to serve the population of 
Good Ground, a portion of present day Hampton Bays. Its Norman 
architecture is accentuated by slate and tile floors, varying peaked 
tile roofs and English oak pews and paneling. The stained glass windows 
in the baptistery and above the altar are the work of Otto W. Heinigke, 
one of the foremost stained glass artists in the country. The church 
building, recognized as one of the most beautiful small churches in 
America, was consecrated on September 4, 1920 by the Right Rev. 
Frederick Burgess, Bishop of Long Island. In 1966, the church was 
granted parish status after 52 years as a mission.
  The current rector, the Rev. Bernadette M. Sullivan, is the first 
woman to serve as the church's spiritual leader. In 2001, the rector 
volunteered St. Mary's as the first church to commit to participate in 
the Maureen's Haven Ministry to the homeless. Many members of the 
congregation have been inspired to become involved. After ten years, 
more than 30 other churches are participating in the program providing 
beds, hot food and counseling for more than 252 guests.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have such a strong and long-standing 
congregation in the First Congressional District of New York, and I 
offer best wishes for the future.