that would rival those of Europe. In 1919 Bishop Rhinelander organized a Cathedral Foundation.
By 1921 his dreams for a great Cathedral were progressing and the Pro-Cathedral he established at
Broad and South Streets was closed — our large, jeweled cross set against the West Window
came from the Pro-Cathedral. In 1926, his successor, Bishop Garland, selected the present site
owned by Mrs. Samuel Houston which was roughly the geographic center for the Diocese.
The Diocese paid $502,000 to the Houston estate for 102 acres, but 34 acres were forfeited back
when the mortgage was in default at the time of the Great Depression.
On May 21, 1927 the first religious service was held on the cathedral property. In 1932 ground was broken
for an immense Cathedral with a three hundred foot gothic tower which would hold the eight bells
previously given as a memorial to William V. Lippincott and cast by Mears and Stainbank, Whitechapel,
England in 1896: http://www.phillyringers.com/stmarys
The two ton tenor bell stands outside the present building; the others wait in storage.
A gift in memory of Mary Masden Vaughan, the towering structure that now dominates the grounds
was only the apse for the Chapel of St. Mary. The Holy Eucharist was first celebrated there on
All Saints’ Day, 1934. Pennsylvania’s Bishops Garland and Tait are buried in the crypt beneath
St. Mary’s Altar.
The small side chapel given by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Houston, who are buried beneath its floor,
was begun in 1938. The Chapel, dedicated to St. Michael and All Angels, boasts an outstanding
window by Philadelphia Stained Glass artisan, Nicola D’Ascenzo . The Altar is of stone from Israel.
At the bases of the arch ribs, sheaves of wheat and bunches of grapes are carved representing
the bread and wine in the Eucharist. The contemporary aumbry for the Reserved Sacrament is from
Belgium. Near St. Michael’s Chapel is an Altar with a Norman pillar, given in memory of Florence P Scull,
who with her husband, is buried beneath it. It is centrally supported by a 12th century stone column from
Lincoln Cathedral. The altar stone is from Bath, England and rests on Tennessee marble.
The D’Asccnzo window above shows St. Hugh, Lincoln’s 12th century monk bishop.
Although from the beginning services had been held regularly in St. Mary’s Chapel, with the Great
Depression and World War II, enthusiasm faded for finishing the Cathedral. The Chapter
(the Board of the Cathedral Church of Christ), the Bishops, and committees pondered building a
smaller Cathedral, converting the property to secular use or perhaps creating a retirement community.
A plan for offering the site for the United Nations was even considered. Then too, there was the
possibility of a ministry to the neighborhood.
To that end, the first resident priest, the Rev. James T. Berger, was appointed in 1955. During his tenure
the congregation grew and the Cathedral grounds were developed and maintained. As the congregation
increased, additional buildings were needed. Bishop Hart, using funds bequeathed by James and
Martha B. Hay, started the large Chapter House building in 1956.
The Rev. John D. Clark arrived in 1969. Establishing a retirement community greatly interested him.
He worked to form the community, named by him “Cathedral Village”, and to bring it into a supportive
partnership with the Diocese, the Cathedral Chapter, and the parishioners of St. Mary’s. Also under
Fr. Clark, St. Mary’s became an independent, incorporated Parish of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.
The Rev. Thomas McLellan arrived in 1977, and served as St. Mary's third rector until 2015.
His tenure was marked by the renovation of the interior of the Nave, and the building of a new organ.
Opened in 1979, Cathedral Village is a community of over four hundred residents and three hundred
and sixty-five employees.
By 1987 St. Mary’s Parish had finally moved beyond the ambiguities of the past. Major building
renovations were completed under the supervision of J.S. Cornell & Son, builders. Later, the
stained glass windows above the altar were installed by artisan Charles Z. Lawrence using
hand-blown German glass. With its separation from the Cathedral Foundation, the Parish
confidently focused its mission and ministry toward its neighborhood and the new community
at Cathedral Village.
Our building still reflects its rather tortured beginnings. A former parishioner, Marjorie R. Maurer,
perhaps best captures the spirit of St. Mary’s today: “So, you have discovered that St. Mary’s
is an unfinished church. Those soaring arches and unfinished upper walls are awaiting completion
with timeless patience. The symbolism of the unfinished structure is a parable. The Church
is not yet finished either. The Church is as unfinished as is every human soul. We, the Church,
have not yet become all we are called to be. St. Mary’s is beautiful in its incompleteness.”
As the body of Christ, we, the Church, are called to serve, are called to bring to others the
reconciling love of Christ, and to heal the world. Our work is unfinished.
The Rev. James T. Berger 1955-1969, Rector
The Rev. John D Clark 1969-1977, Rector
The Rev. Thomas McClellan 1977-2015, Rector
The Rev. Timothy Steeves, 2015-2017, Priest in ChargeThe Rev. Peter M. Carey, 2017 - present, Rector