“It wasn’t until my time in college that I really became involved with the church.”
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of articles profiling the leaders of Burlington Township’s places of worship. This week’s article highlights the life and work of the Rev. Connor Haynes of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
For many religious leaders, the church has been a key instrument in their lives even as a child. Attending church services each week was a normal part of their schedules, even if they truly didn’t want to go.
The Rev. Connor Haynes, the leader of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Burlington Township, was a child who didn’t regularly take part in church services.
“Growing up in Illinois, I wasn’t raised in a very religious household,” Haynes said. “It wasn’t until my time in college that I really became involved with the church.”
Haynes was studying history and law during his early college years, and was set to apply to law schools before he received the call into ministry. Haynes earned a master’s of divinity degree from Nashotah House seminary in Wisconsin, and was ordained as a deacon and then a priest in 1986.
The 58-year-old served in the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., for 10 years before being called to St. Mary’s in 1996. This is his 21st year of service in Burlington Township, where he has been a resident since joining the church.
“Leading worship and celebrating the sacraments of the church is a great privilege,” Haynes said. “Preaching is both a joy and a challenge, it is tough sometimes to try and think of new messages to spread to the congregation. There are so many wonderful things about leading the church that it’s tough to pick a single one.”
Haynes, a history guru, also enjoys leading a church that is very historic in its own right. St. Mary’s Church has been around since 1702, which is both “astonishing and interesting” to the Illinois native.
“To sit down and think that the faith has been studied and worshipped here for over 300 years is amazing,” Haynes said. “I love history and enjoy learning more about this church and how is has grown since then.”
The attendance of St. Mary’s may not be near what it used to be, but that hasn’t changed the kind and generous nature the members have.
“We may not have the biggest church out there, but the members are still doing God’s work in a variety of ways,” Haynes said. “Our ladle of love program offered two times a month allows people to come get a home-cooked meal. We reach out to do charitable things in our community and in other parts of the country, too.”
Outside of his daily duties as a pastor, Haynes enjoys reading, studying, building things and doing work around his house.
“I enjoy studying about the church here, and try to think what happened in certain years,” Haynes said. “I like building stuff and seeing the work you’ve put in when the project is completed.”
For more information regarding Haynes or St. Mary’s Church, check http://www.stmarysburlington.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1.
