Rectors

Thirty-two rectors have served St. Mary’s during our long history. The Rev. Tom Turnbull served our parish for 27 years, oversaw the construction of our parish hall and classrooms in the 50s, was on the founding board of Aldea (a local non- profit supporting vulnerable and foster youth and providing mental health services for children and families) in the 70s, and marched in Selma with Martin Luther King in 1964. The Rev. Stephen Carpenter retired as rector in November of 2017 after 34 years with us, he oversaw the major retrofit of the building for earthquake safety, the rebuild after the earthquake, and a spiritual deepening of the congregation through participation in Cursillo retreats. Our thirty second Rector, the Rev. Robin Denney, began her ministry with us on September 19, 2019.

List of Rectors 1858-Present

Christ Church Parish (organized August 29, 1858)

Elijah W Hager 1858-1859

Hannibal Goodwin 1859-1860

Ivan Mehr (Supply) 1862

G. Berryman (Supply) 1864

A.S. Nicholson (Supply) 1867

Supply Priests from St Augustine’s College, Benicia 1868-1871

William Leacock 1871-1874

George D. Silliman 1874-1876

Walter H. Moore 1877-1878

Robert H. Kline 1879-1880

William Leacock 1881-1886

John Portmess 1886-1888

S. Fackenthall 1888-1892

St. Mary’s Parish (renamed April 4, 1893)

John T. Shurtleff 1892-1893

Caleb Benham 1893-1899

William B. Thorn 1899-1901

Brevard D. Sinclair 1901-1902

William H. Hawken 1902-1908

Benjamin J. Darneille 1908-1910

Irving Baxter 1910-1918

William A. Rimer 1918-1920

Byron Holly 1921-1924

Arthur J. Child 1924-1930

William C. Pearson 1930-1941

Herbert T. Pateman 1941-1944

Aaron King 1944-1949

Luther O. Ison 1949-1957

Thomas B. Turnbull 1957-1981

Barry Turner (Interim) 1981-1982

Stephen M. Carpenter 1983-2017

Vanessa Stickler-Glass (Interim) 2017-2019

Robin E. Denney 2019-