The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber

The Rev. Dr. Mary Barber followed the call to be a priest after a twenty year career in public sector psychiatry. Prior to entering seminary, she was the clinical director of Rockland Psychiatric Center, the largest state hospital system in New York.

Mary completed her undergraduate degree at Cornell University, medical school at Icahn-Mt Sinai, psychiatry residency at NY Hospital-Cornell, and public psychiatry fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian. She taught at Columbia for years as voluntary faculty. In 2021, Mary got her masters of divinity from Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in NYC. She was ordained a priest in September 2021.

For the past three years, Mary has served two churches in New York’s Hudson Valley, St George’s Episcopal Church in Newburgh and St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie. St George’s completed a major roof restoration project and St Paul’s made significant building repairs during this time. The two churches hosted a special service for Caribbean Heritage Month that attracted attendance from around the Diocese. They studied and prayed together in Advent and Lent retreats, and held an all-ages Pauli Murray book read and author tour.

Mary is co-author of The Way of the Cross for Pandemic Time and co-editor of The LGBT Casebook. While in the Diocese of New York she served on the Commission on Ministry, Ordination Task Force, and Committee to Elect a Bishop. She is a trustee of Episcopal Divinity School.

Mary is married to Dr. Alleyne Fraser, a neurosurgeon (who first introduced her to the Episcopal Church!). Alleyne and Mary are proud parents of two young adult daughters, now out in the world thriving and making a difference as an attorney and a teacher. The newest member of the family is Pippa, a super-cute and irresistible Yorkie.

Taking walks, singing and music, reading, and seeing an occasional Broadway show or opera, are some of the things Mary loves to do. She relishes her yearly silent retreats at Eastern Point Retreat House. Mary’s spirituality is mystical and practical. She loves beautiful liturgy and social justice work.

Mary is excited and filled with gratitude to be called as Rector of St. Martin’s.