St. Mary’s roots can be traced back to the 1850s, when German pioneers with a strong Catholic faith settled in the area. In 1856, the faith-filled Catholics built their first church, a small log building. They named their parish after St. Mary Protectress, or Schutz, in German. The parish grew so fast that within two to three years a larger frame church was built. The community soon outgrew their second church and in 1864 built a stone church that faced to the west, toward the cemetery. In 1909, the present red-and-white brick church was erected. The architect was George Ries of St. Paul, who also designed St. Agnes in St. Paul. The present church incorporates a statue of Our Lady and Child dating back to 1862. The bells and baptismal font are from the 1864 church, and the cornerstone from the 1864 church has been preserved in the vestibule. Around 1869, the first school was built. It was led by Benedictine Sisters from St. Joseph, and then by the School Sisters of Notre Dame for nearly 100 years, until the school closed in 2009. During its lifetime, St. Mary’s School inspired an unusually large number of religious vocations, including 18 priests, 40 sisters and several religious brothers. For more than 160 years, St. Mary, sitting majestically on the hill overlooking the city, has been a beacon of faith in the New Trier community.