A Brief History of St. Mark's from the Parish Historians
St. Mark’s began in 1867 as a mission of Christ Church, Capitol Hill. It was the Pro-Cathedral (1896-1902) of the Washington Diocese, before construction of the Washington Cathedral. St. Mark's has always focused on innovative worship, Christian education, music, the arts, and social issues. The Christian education program has evolved since the late 1950s to address ethical issues in the context of Judeo-Christian values amidst the conflicting options and tensions of real life. St. Mark’s has been racially inclusive since the 1960s and in recent years has been enriched by the inclusion of same-sex couples. In 1974, the American Institute of Architects wrote: “That this church survives at all is a tribute to one of the most alive and well congregations in the city.”
Construction on the church began in 1888, concluding in 1894 with extension of the nave, addition of the chancel, high altar, spire, and the foyer leading to the parish hall. The architect was Thomas Buckler Ghequier (1854-1910) of Baltimore. The late Victorian architecture reflects the Neo-Romanesque style and continued in 1926 with addition of the parish hall.
In 1965-66, the nave was restored and a central altar was installed. Chairs replaced pews, enabling use of the nave for plays and liturgical dance as well as for social events. In 1990-91 an undercroft was developed as our legacy for the 21st century. The original church foundations are visible in the large meeting room, the Adams Room, named for tenth rector, Jim Adams.
The artistic glory of the church is its stained glass, mostly made by Mayer of Munich, between 1888 and 1947. These windows are in the nave and chapel as well as in the clerestory above the chancel and nave. The large baptistery window is an early Tiffany (1888), depicting Christ leaving the praetorium on the way to Calvary, as portrayed by French artist Gustave Doré. It was given by Jean Lander, a retired English actress and early parishioner. The Tiffany and four nave triptych windows were in the church when it opened in 1889. The 28 clerestory windows above the chancel and nave are by Mayer, J. & R. Lamb, and, more recently, by Willett, Connick, and Brenda Belfield. The small vestibule window in the northeast entrance, depicting the winged lion of St. Mark, was made by Lamb, the oldest American maker of stained glass. In the parish hall foyer is a 2009 window honoring our sextons since 1888, also made by Lamb.
The 1926 parish hall’s most notable feature is a mural painted in 1958 by parishioner Ralph DeBurgos, depicting life on Capitol Hill in the 1950s. Also in the parish hall is the Winged Lion Pub, established in 1973, which, in the tradition of coffee hour after services, provides drinks, usually with a lunch prepared by parishioners.
The cherry trees in the courtyard were given by President and Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69), who often attended St. Mark’s. The parish office is at Baxter House, 118 3rd St. SE, named for our ninth rector, Bill Baxter.
The Rev. Paul Roberts Abernathy has been our eleventh rector since 1998, succeeding Jim Adams (1966-96), Bill Baxter (1954-66), and other outstanding rectors, since our first, A. Floridus Steele (1869-93).
Bert and Mary Cooper, Parish Historians
