Built on Faith: The History of St. Mary’s Ardmore
St. Mary’s was founded in 1883 as a mission church of the Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. For many years, St. Mary’s served mill workers in the Ardmore area. The mission prospered and many members of the Church of the Redeemer became permanent members of St. Mary’s, alongside many working class members. This blending of rich and poor, black and white, able and disabled continues today. In 1886, land was purchased on Ardmore Avenue for the permanent chapel church, and architect Allen Evans, Frank Furness and his partner Allen Evans were hired to design the new building. In 1887, St. Mary’s became an independent parish. Allen Evans eventually designed the first Parish House (1888) and Rectory (1898).
In 1895, the women of St. Mary’s began the St. Mary’s Laundry, which provided year-round employment for 100 local women. The Laundry operated until the 1960s when it was purchased by a parishioner to run as a commercial business. Although the laundry was eventually sold, St. Mary’s addressed the Great Depression and its hardships by starting a Bargain Counter/Thrift Shop in 1932, which continued until 2005. In response to the Great Recession, St. Mary's founded the Ardmore Food Pantry in 2008.
Today, St. Mary’s continues this legacy of mission and ministry. St. Mary’s aids families experiencing homelessness, as one of nine local host congregations comprising Family Promise of the Main Line. We offer a week of meals, lodging, and hospitality to families experiencing homelessness six times per year. St. Mary's is also the home of the Ardmore Food Pantry now, which serves 175+ nearly 200 households pereach week.
St. Mary’s continues to honor its legacy and is an inclusive, diverse community of followers of Jesus Christ striving to grow in love, celebrating all people in their spiritual journey, and serving the world in Christ’s name.
In 1895, the women of St. Mary’s began the St. Mary’s Laundry, which provided year-round employment for 100 local women. The Laundry operated until the 1960s when it was purchased by a parishioner to run as a commercial business. Although the laundry was eventually sold, St. Mary’s addressed the Great Depression and its hardships by starting a Bargain Counter/Thrift Shop in 1932, which continued until 2005. In response to the Great Recession, St. Mary's founded the Ardmore Food Pantry in 2008.
Today, St. Mary’s continues this legacy of mission and ministry. St. Mary’s aids families experiencing homelessness, as one of nine local host congregations comprising Family Promise of the Main Line. We offer a week of meals, lodging, and hospitality to families experiencing homelessness six times per year. St. Mary's is also the home of the Ardmore Food Pantry now, which serves 175+ nearly 200 households pereach week.
St. Mary’s continues to honor its legacy and is an inclusive, diverse community of followers of Jesus Christ striving to grow in love, celebrating all people in their spiritual journey, and serving the world in Christ’s name.
