St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
The frescoes at St. Mary’s were painted between 1974 and 1977. A stained glass window behind the altar with a depiction of Mary and the infant Lord had to be relocated before work on the fresco could begin. Because the art of fresco involves working with wet plaster, once the painting had begun, it had to continue with limited interruptions. Worship services at St. Mary’s were held while Ben Long painted behind the altar. When communion was held, Long would come down from the scaffold, receive the Eucharist, and then return to his painting.

Behind the altar today is "The Mystery of Faith" depicting the crucifixion of Christ and his image as King. To the right of the Altar is a depiction of John the Baptist standing on the bank of the River Jordan. To the left of the Altar is "Mary Great with Child". Father Hodge suggested the image of a pregnant Mary and Long used his wife – who was expecting their first child at the time as the model. Ben Long won the Leonardo da Vinci award for the portrayal of Mary.

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Photos by Fred Carey.