St. Mary's Scarborough is Closing its Doors

The parish of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church on Route 9 in Scarborough will shut down July 5.

The vestry—that’s the governing body of an Episcopal or Anglican church—voted June 16 to close the venerable institution, which was founded in 1859.

“”the intention of the vestry, in making this difficult and yet courageous decision, is to ensure that the best care and stewardship of the sacred space be taken,” the Rev. Sandra Seaborn wrote on the church website. “With longstanding fiscal challenges and diminishing personal resources it was decided to end worship services in order that there be some means for future ministry when the time comes.”

Mother Sandra said that the vestry set aside $10,000 for the Prayer & Healing Ministry so that it could find a new home and continue.

Priest-in-charge for almost four years, Mother Sandra had resigned in May with plans to return to her native Canada.