St. Mary's Episcopal Church held services beginning in 1830 and was firmly organized in 1846 under the leadership of Rev. Saml. Geo. Litton. It was admitted into union with the Diocese of LA. in 1847. The rectory, built in 1855, was the first rectory in the Diocese. The original church was consecrated in 1856 by Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk, "The Fighting Bishop of LA." After it was destroyed by fire in 1870, the present church was completed in 1872 largely through the efforts of Alfred Gates and Homer Smith. Its bell came from the Civil War gunboat "Diana," which had sunk at the foot of Willow Street.
