Rev. David Allen, Rector Emeritus of St. Mary’s Church, retired in 2001 after 32 years of active ministry. He continues to serve on the Assisting Clergy team at St. Mary’s.

Father Allen earned his B.A. from Boston University in 1962 and his Master of Divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale in 1965. During seminary, he served at St. Luke’s, Darien, CT. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1965 and to the priesthood in 1966 by the Rt. Rev. John M. Burgess.

His early ministry included serving as Curate at Christ Church, Andover (1965–1969), where he was also Student Chaplain at Pike School and Phillips Andover Academy, and helped launch ministry programs for migrant farm workers in Lawrence, MA.

From 1968 to 1979, he was Rector of Church of Our Saviour, Middleborough, MA. He held diocesan roles including Chair of the Episcopal Times Editorial Board and the Ecumenical Committee. He also co-founded local mental health services and authored Pastoral Care Ministry, later adopted into seminary curricula.

In 1979, he became Rector of St. Mary’s, Barnstable, where he served until retirement. He was active in the Cape Cod Council of Churches, regional clergy associations, housing initiatives, chaplaincy programs, and pastoral care networks.

Father Allen and his wife, Ruthanne, have been married for 60 years. They have two daughters, Sarah (Steve) and Melissa (Jorgina), and two granddaughters, Emily and Madeline.