A History of St Ann's Church, Sayville, NY
During our long history there have been a number of people who seem to embody our spirit. Their actions and values have made an indelible mark on the shaping of St. Ann’s. Their stories help to illuminate our history.
Reverend Charles Douglas (1833–1915), founder of St. Ann’s, was a visionary leader and rector of St. John’s Oakdale. Believing public education lacked depth, he established St. John’s Academy in Sayville and later moved it to the newly built St. Barnabas Chapel in 1866, renaming it the “Daily Parish School.” The school operated until 1871. During this time, he fell in love with Isabella Lawson, a teacher, organist, and Sunday school instructor. After a long secret relationship, both left St. Barnabas, married, and were later buried side by side in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
In 1873, Reverend John Henry Prescott (1848–1923) was called to missionary work in Suffolk County, overseeing St. Barnabas in Sayville and St. Paul’s in Patchogue. He quickly transformed St. Barnabas from a mission into a parish, becoming its first rector. Serving for a record 47 years (1874–1921), he worked closely with local families to strengthen the church. Beloved by his congregation, he played a key role in shaping St. Ann’s into the beautiful place it is today.
Sarah Elizabeth “Libby” Homan Snedecor (1848–1897) lived in a Middle Road home that housed day school students and teacher Isabella Lawson. An active St. Ann’s parishioner, she kept a journal from 1867 to 1868, with entries continuing sporadically until 1878. This diary is a priceless record of St. Ann’s early history, documenting St. Barnabas Chapel, the day school, and the church’s development.
Renowned architect Isaac H. Green Jr. (1859–1937) designed St. Ann’s beautiful stone church. A member of the early congregation, he attended the Daily Parish School run by Reverend Douglas and later apprenticed with Riverhead architect George Skidmore. By 1879, he was designing buildings for his father’s lumberyard clients and Reverend Prescott of St. Ann’s. Green’s career flourished during Long Island’s late 19th-century building boom, with America’s wealthiest businessmen commissioning his work. While prominent architects designed estates like Vanderbilt’s Idle Hour and Bayard Cutting’s Westbrook, Green contributed to their expansions, designing farm sections, dependencies, and homes for New York’s elite. His work can be seen across the Northeast. A dedicated Sayville resident, Green was a charter member of the Sayville Hose Company, a vestryman and later warden at St. Ann’s, and an active member of the Sayville Village Improvement Society. He also served as president of the Oysterman’s Bank, treasurer of the Electric Company, and a school board trustee, earning local recognition with support from The Suffolk County News.
St. Ann’s Cemetery is not just a resting place for the wealthy and famous--Nannie Dillard (1875–1898) is one such example. A 23-year-old African-American widow with a young child in the South, she worked as a maid at the Delevan Hotel near St. Ann’s. Alone and without family, she fell ill during the summer of 1898, suffering from pleurisy, pneumonia, and heart failure. She passed away on August 29. Reverend Prescott opened St. Ann’s for her funeral, preaching to a mixed-race congregation. Guests of the Delevan raised funds for her medical and burial expenses, and her coffin was covered in flowers as her favorite hymns were sung. In 2011, thanks to the efforts of the St. Ann’s Historical Society, led by Constance Curry, her unmarked grave was finally honored with a headstone.
Edith Corse Evans (1875–1912) was a young, wealthy parishioner whose family split time between New York City and her grandfather’s estate in West Sayville. At 36, she traveled to Europe for a family funeral, followed by a shopping trip to Paris. She booked a first-class ticket home on the Titanic. During the sinking, Edith and fellow passenger Molly Brown were escorted to Lifeboat D but were told only one seat remained. Edith insisted, “You go first, you have children waiting at home.” Molly survived; Edith did not. Her body was never recovered. A plaque on St. Ann’s east wall honors her selflessness.
Reverend Joseph Herbert Bond (1889–1984) served as St. Ann’s rector from 1922 to 1960, continuing as Rector Emeritus for 24 more years. He was especially dedicated to youth ministry. In 1924, the Church Charity Foundation opened the “Cottages” across from St. Ann’s, housing orphaned children. Reverend Bond devoted countless hours to their care. He also chartered the area’s first Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, serving as scoutmaster until a replacement was found. His leadership engaged youth in many church projects and services.
Reverend Robert Schwarz served as St. Ann’s seventh rector until his retirement in 2004, introducing several impactful programs. Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, and Faith Alive strengthened faith within the congregation, while Homework Haven provided after-school care for latchkey children. He also introduced healing services, baptismal counseling, and parenting classes. During his 18-year tenure, Father Bob was a respected community leader. His involvement in Rotary and as Chaplain for the Sayville Fire Department left a lasting impression. He was among the first chaplains on site after 9/11 and was especially admired for his compassion for local youth.
Reverend Diane Britt was a dedicated and transformative leader at St. Ann’s, serving faithfully for eight years before her retirement. Her impact on the parish was profound, as she worked tirelessly to strengthen the church’s foundation—both spiritually and structurally. A passionate advocate for youth involvement, she revitalized the youth group, creating a welcoming space for young parishioners to grow in faith and community. She also played a key role in improving St. Ann’s financial stability, ensuring the church’s continued success for future generations. Through her leadership, significant enhancements were made to the buildings and grounds, preserving the beauty and functionality of the church. Beyond these achievements, Reverend Britt was deeply committed to fostering the next generation of clergy. She provided invaluable mentorship to seminarians, guiding them toward placements within the diocese and shaping their futures in ministry. Her dedication to St. Ann’s and its people was evident in everything she did—leading with compassion, vision, and unwavering faith. Her legacy is one of progress, care, and devotion, leaving a lasting imprint on St. Ann’s Parish and the community she so lovingly served.
History of Saint Ann's Cemetery
The Garden of the Unforgotten

St. Ann's Cemetery was established at the suggestion of John Suydam, with a portion of church property set aside for burials. The Suydams and other early communicants reserved plots along the main road, and the year 1877 is marked on the posts of the Suydam plot. The Smith family, who owned large parcels of land in Sayville, held property extending to what is now the cemetery’s western border. Two burials—L. Smith (1852) and M. Smith (1868)—are likely theirs, with the 1852 burial being the only pre-Civil War interment. In 1895, land between St. Ann’s Cemetery and the older Union Cemetery was purchased, effectively merging them. Reverend John H. Prescott envisioned a lake as part of the creek area, which is now a Suffolk County Nature Preserve and Watershed, ensuring the integrity of the wetlands. By 1932, the Vestry had expanded cemetery roads, including the Suydam Memorial Gateway entrance. The entrance road was surfaced with oyster shells and cinders, and trees were thinned to create new burial plots. St. Ann’s Cemetery is home to individuals from all walks of life—wealthy and poor, clergy and sea folk, physicians, lawyers, musicians, and even a Civil War general, a U.S. diplomat, and a noted architect. St. Ann’s Garden of the Unforgotten is a non-denominational section, reserved solely for human remains.
By Connie Currie
For questions about St. Ann’s Cemetery, contact the cemetery manager at 631-589-6522.
By Connie Currie
For questions about St. Ann’s Cemetery, contact the cemetery manager at 631-589-6522.