St. Mark's Church, Frankford facts for kids

St. Mark's Church is a historic church located in the Frankford area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was started in 1832 and is still an active church today.

History of St. Mark's Church

The church began in 1832 through the efforts of Trinity Church, Oxford. This was a time when many churches were focused on spreading their message. St. Mark's first served as a teaching center. Later, it grew into a missionary church, helping people in the community. In the 1880s, new leaders guided the church using ideas from the Oxford Movement. This movement focused on traditional Christian practices.

Community Programs and Leaders

St. Mark's Church started two important programs in the 1800s.

• The Mother's Meeting began in 1860. It helped mothers share life skills and Christian values. This program supported women busy with raising families.
• The Lay Cooperation in Ministry was the second program. It taught that regular church members, called "lay people," could be ministers. Their leadership could help many lives.

William Welsh was a very important member of St. Mark's. He was a merchant, a generous giver, and a strong Christian leader. He was part of the church from 1832 until he passed away in 1878. Welsh led the Sunday school and wrote many books and papers. He even bought and ran a newspaper. He served on many boards and helped start the Philadelphia Divinity School. He also helped begin seven other churches. Welsh was involved in founding the Wills Eye Hospital and helped change Philadelphia's volunteer firefighting system into a professional city department.

The Rev. Dr. Daniel Sutter Miller was the church's rector from 1853 to 1871. He was a great leader who inspired the Lay Cooperation in Ministry and the Mother's Meetings. He also started other programs. These programs helped people in need become self-sufficient. They also encouraged wealthy members to help others.

Colonel James Ashworth was a brave officer from St. Mark's. He formed a company of men from the church to fight in the Civil War. He was wounded many times during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Thomas Creighton was another important church member. He loved education and helped found the Historical Society of Frankford. He was also an author, painter, and leader in Frankford and Philadelphia. His son, Frank Whittington Creighton, became a bishop in Mexico.

Members of St. Mark's have played a big role in Northeast Philadelphia. More than 16 streets in the area are named after church members. During times of sickness, the church became a clinic. During the Civil War, 188 soldiers came from the church. Over the years, 39 members of St. Mark's have died serving the United States in wars.

Architecture of St. Mark's

The church building was designed by Frank Rushmore Watson. He was an expert in church architecture. The building is in the perpendicular Gothic style. Its ceilings are 56 feet high and look like Noah's Ark turned upside down. It was built to hold 1,000 people. The church was even planned to become the main cathedral for the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

The church is made of Port Deposit granite. Inside, it is lined with Indiana limestone. The beautiful windows were created by Nicola D'Ascenzo. He was a former president of the Philadelphia Sketch Club. The church also has 69 stone carvings. These were made by Whiteman Studios of Philadelphia. Many memorials inside the church honor past members. A very special feature is the amazing stone reredos, which is a decorated screen behind the altar.

Church Organs

The church has had two important pipe organs. The first was a Haskell organ from 1908. The second is a large 1957 Aeolian-Skinner organ. This organ is still there but is not used often. It was designed by G. Donald Harrison in 1955. Joseph Whiteford oversaw its installation. The organ was officially dedicated in 1957. Over the years, parts of the organ have been changed or added to.

St. Mark's Church Today

Today, St. Mark's Church continues to serve the Frankford neighborhood. This area faces economic challenges. The church's financial savings were used up by August 2019.

Rectors of St. Mark's

• The Rev. Henry S. Spackman, 1846–1853
• The Rev. Dr. Daniel S. Miller, 1853–1881
• The Rev. Robert C. Booth, 1881–1889
• The Rev. Frederick Burt Avery, D.D., 1882–1892
• The Rev. John B. Harding, 1893–1921
• The Rev. Leslie F. Potter, 1921–1932
• The Rev. Edmund H. Carhart, 1933–1945
• The Rev. Albert Fisher, 1945–1976
• The Rev. Dr. Robert Zimmerman, 1977–1981
• The Rev. David Hockensmith, 1982–1999
• The Rev. Jonathan N. Clodfelter, 2002–2019