Who We Were
In 1956, a flyer addressed to:
“Interested Pagans,
Bored Christians,
and Others”
appeared on the doorsteps of the Victorian townhouses across Capitol Hill. Obviously this wasn’t just another traditional pitch for a church. St. Mark's was, by all appearances, a dying parish whose membership had dwindled to just 50 members. The flyer was the brainchild of a new rector who had been assigned the daunting task of reinvigorating a church that was viewed as being past its prime. Working with a small but determined group of parishioners, he brought a then-revolutionary approach to Christian education into St. Mark's, along with modern dance, plays, concerts, art shows, and social activism efforts. The old-fashioned fixed pews were removed — to the horror of some — in favor of flexible seating that allowed for worship services to take place around a central movable altar.
Refocusing our vision from looking collectively upwards at a high altar to meeting each other's eyes across the center of the nave had a profound impact on the evolution of St. Mark's into a modern and thriving community that welcomes everyone, regardless of where they are on their faith journey. This flexible space reminds us that all aspects of life from baptism to burial take place in the presence of God.
