St. Mary’s Episcopal Church is a small historic church in Colonial Beach, VA, the “Playground on the Potomac.” The creation care committee was formed in October 2022, with the initial mission of caring for the grounds responsibly. And in Fall 2023, the founding green team leader participated in IPC's Faithful Green Leaders Training.

During 2023 and 2024, the creation care committee’s work focused around habitat restoration by eliminating pesticide spraying, removing invasive plants and dead or overgrown non-native shrubs, and replacing the non-natives with native plants and shrubs. 

In 2024, three community-wide events to foster environmental awareness were hosted in the parish hall: a partnership with the Virginia Osprey foundation; a partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension; and eco-wreath making with with a local gardener.

Additional action in 2024 included support of Northern Neck Native Plant Society events and participation in the Diocese of Virginia Creation Care ministries, including the newly created “Love God Love God‘s World" curriculum study.

In 2025 the committee plans to expand its care of creation by officially partnering with other organizations; for example, they signed a partner pledge with Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake. Also in 2025, the committee intends to follow the lead of the (inter)national Episcopal Church, and prioritize minimizing the church's carbon footprint. The first step will be to track energy use (a step they hope will lead to earning a “Cool Congregation” designation through Interfaith Power and Light).

For more information about Saint Mary's Episcopal Church, click here.