History Of St. Mary's Church
according to Richard Cobbs, III
About 1930 there was no organized Episcopal
church and few Episcopalians in Andalusia. These few faithful ones, listed below, had
carried on with no regular services. The church register shows them as the following: Ada
E. Barnes, Dell O'Neal Hart, Mr. and Mrs George H. Jones, Netta Battle Jones, Dorothy
Fauntleroy Joseph, Arthur Jeffery, Minnie Milligan, Rachel Mullins, Ansel Calmes Mullins,
J. Perrenot Milligan, Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter B. Milligan, Minny Lea McGowin, Sumpter
Milligan McGowin, James Earl McGowin, Louise Perrenot O'Neal, Dudley Lee O'Neal, Mrs.
Katherine M. Perrenot, Mrs. Edith Perritt, Henry Gerhardt Posey, Eliazbeth Webster Posey,
Edward Williamson, Theodore W. Wrenn, and Sarah Haughton Wrenn Baptisms of the following
are shown in the records: Dudley Lee O'Neal, Minny Lea McGowan, Sumpter Milligan McGowan,
Fred E. Caldwell, Dorothy Fauntleroy Joseph, Ansel Calmes Mullins, Edward Williamson
Mullins. Services were held in private homes with the Rev. E.B. Collier or T.G. Mundy
officiating. The Rt Rev. McDowell confirmed Frederick E Caldwell and Arthur Jeffery at the
Methodist Church on March 13, 1926. Then, on November 19, l933 Neta battle Jones and Sarah
Houghton were confirmed at St. Mark's Troy, also by Bishop McDowell. One marriage is
recorded: James Earl McGowin and Cecilia Milligan. Three burials are recorded from
l921-1934: J. Perrenot Milligan, Sumpter B. Milligan and Katherine M Perrenot.
These early members had looked forward to having a church building and had purchased a lot
from Mr. Riley just north of the Methodist church were their Educational Building is
today.
In 1945 and 1946 several Episcopal families had moved to this area. In late l946
Layminister Services were held regularly in an upstairs room over the electric and water
offices on South Cotton Street.
During this formative time a group of men from Christ Church, Pensacola, came up several
times and helped us. Our number began to increase and a petition was dispatched to The Rt.
Rev. Bishop Carpenter for an organized mission. This was granted and The Rev.Jodie
Kellerman from Dothan was designated as Vicar-In-Charge.
There was a need for a building of our own, so the lot was sold to the Methodists and the
present lot was bought with the money from this sale. We had no money for a building but
there was a strong desire for one. Several loan agencies were approached. A suggestion was
made that we ask friends other than Episcopalians in town to contribute. This was done and
everyone was most generous. What funds we lacked were borrowed from the bank and
signatures of the then Trustees and we were ready to build.
Walter O. Merrill, son of one of the owners of Andalusia Manufacturing Company, was the
architect and builder of the present church. Much of the work you see was done with his
own hands, especially the altar, lectern, and pulpit. Other members, under his
supervision, helped with various parts of the building which was completed in the early
summer of 1949. After completion, Walter's father gave the pews we now have. The light
fixtures were given by the Church of the Nativity, Dothan; the communion vessels by a
friend from St. Andrew's, Florida; and many of the furnishings in the church were given by
members of the mission itself. Later, a friend of St. Mary's, Count Darling, Jr. gave the
Hammond Organ as a memorial to his Mother.
The note at the bank was paid in due time and the building was consecrated on the 8th of
March, 1953 by The Rt Rev. Randolph Clairborne, bishop of the Diocese of Alabama.
The residence adjoining the southwest corner of the mission property was offered as a
vicarage by Mr. Charles Laney, a member who was moving out of town. The trustees purchased
it in 1955. We now had a vicarage, but no vicar. However, not long afterwards the Rev.
James Woodson came to us as our first resident Vicar.
Later, the parish house was constructed and furnished on money borrowed from the bank. In
due time, all of this has been paid for and nothing is owed on the property.
As it was stated earlier, the Rev. Jody Kellerman (1948) was our first Vicar. He was
followed by Rev. Ben Meginnis, of Dothan; Rev. Yates Calvert Greer, (l953-55) living in
Greenville; Rev James Woodson ( 1955-57); Rev. Doug Carpenter who served both Andalusia
and Brewton(1960-63); and Rev. Charles Murphy ( 1963-67), who also served Brewton.: The
Rev. John G. Martin (1967-?) Following in interval, Rev. Earnest de Bordenave became Vicar
(1971-75). He was followed by Rev. Tim Scott (l977-78). In l979, the Rev. Richard Jones
became Vicar. The records show Rev. William H. Hazelett and Rev. Charles Mabry serving in
the 1980s. The Rev. Jack Eales of Blue Water Bay, Florida become the vicar is 1991 and
remained until 1995. Father William Capers Acosta served every other Sunday until the
Revs. Shirley Hall and Lee J. Humphrey of Pensacola became interim's (1997, Jan) At the
beginning of June the Rev. Robert Randall became the
deacon-in-charge. Following his ordination on February 1, 1998 he became the vicar of St.
Mary’s church.
Over the years, St. Mary's has had many members who have come and gone, but many of them
remain and with each passing year we show a growth both in members and stewardship. It is
with heartfelt thanks that we rededicate ourselves to this community and to the Diocese of
the Central Gulf Coast.