About Us

October 1946
Members of St. Andrew’s Church in Downtown Tampa establish an Episcopal mission in fast-growing South Tampa, with the support of St. Andrew’s rector, The Rev. Harold Brown Hoag, and the Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Henry I. Louttit. The Rev. John Benton, curate at St. Andrew’s, provided pastoral oversight for the mission, called St. Andrew’s Palma Ceia Church. Liturgies were celebrated in various locations around South Tampa, including the Palma Ceia Country Club and the Ella Mae School of Dance.

October 1947
With a committed core group of people, this mission church saw much growth and became St. Mary’s Chapel: An Episcopal Mission, procuring property on Concordia Empedrado, which eventually extended to Bay-to-Bay. The first building on the site was a parish hall, which served as worship space and Sunday School.

October 1949
The church building was erected on the same site, setting up St. Mary’s first campus. In the same year, the Rev. Warren Densmore, curate at St. Andrew’s, became the vicar of St. Mary’s Chapel: An Episcopal Mission.

1951-1952
St. Mary’s was granted parish status in 1951, and Fr. Densmore became the first rector. He established St. Mary’s Parish Day School in 1952, with a kindergarten class and a plan to add one class per year to and including the 8th-grade level.

May 1953
The Vestry leadership acquired the present property bordering San Miguel, Manhattan, San Rafael and Hubert streets.

1959
Fr. Densmore departed for another assignment and was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Carrol Simcox as rector. The parish saw the completion of the plans that started with Fr. Densmore.

1964-1974
The third rector of St. Mary’s, the Rev. John Mangrum, was called to succeed Dr. Simcox.

1975-1982
The Rev. Thomas Gailor Garner, Jr., was rector of St. Mary’s. Called for the design of All Saints Chapel.

1983-1994
The Rev. Hewitt V. Johnston served as rector. All Saints Chapel was dedicated.

1996
The Rev. Kevin Francis Donlon was installed as Rector of St. Mary’s Parish.

2000
The church and school experience unprecedented growth. After completion of a $9 million capital campaign, groundbreaking for the new school and church buildings occurs on Nov. 15.

2002
The new school building is dedicated and the new church is consecrated. Shortly thereafter, Fr. Donlon resigns from St. Mary’s; The Rev. William D. McLean III is named interim rector.

2004
Present. Plans for a new Parish Activity Center Hall are announced. The search for a new rector begins and is quickly found. With excitement we are honored to announce Father Dennis Kezar from Christ Church in Bradenton has been installed as Rector of St. Mary's Parish.