Get to Know: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Louis
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in St. Louis is well-known in the region for its distinctive modern architecture and stained glass windows. But to the members of this parish in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood, St. Mark’s is just home.
“What I can tell you about St. Mark’s is this: we are a group of folks yearning for God, following Jesus, open to the Holy Spirit, and striving to help enact God’s dream here in St. Louis Hills—and beyond,” writes the Rev. Mark Kozielec on St. Mark’s website. “And we like to have fun.”
You’ll find members gathering outside their church buildings each Sunday morning for fellowship before their 10 a.m. worship service. Children gather for lessons in the community garden and then attend their Godly Play class. Adults engage in Bible studies, book discussions, and monthly “Kairos” classes to better understand their faith and Episcopal traditions.
Members from the neighborhood are invited to share space on the church grounds, enjoying the fountains and relaxing in the shade of the Memorial Garden, visiting the lion sculpture and playing games in the church’s green space, or growing vegetables and flowers in the community garden (affectionately named the Garden of Eatin’).
Inside the church, St. Mark’s has a fabulous Juget-Sinclair pipe organ and an active volunteer choir ministry that take full advantage of the remarkable acoustics inside the church. The organ has been featured in several publications over the past decade and St. Mark’s has hosted many community concerts and recitals. The CD titled Confluence, by organist Dr. Barbara Raedeke, is available from Raven Compact Disks (RAVENoar-937).
As the first church of modern design in St. Louis, St. Mark’s is listed as a City Landmark and has earned national acclaim. It was designed by the partnership of St. Louis architects Charles Nagel and Frederick Dunn and dedicated by Bishop William Scarlett in 1939. The church displays the work of many local craftsmen and artisans, including the statue of St. Mark on the outside of the church and the Christus Rex above the altar, both by artist Sheila Burlingame. The church continues to draw visitors who appreciate its simple, elegant, mid-century modern design.
The stained glass windows at St. Mark’s have been called the first of their kind in our country. Robert Harmon, a graduate of Washington University’s School of Art designed the windows and they were created at Emil Frei Studio in St. Louis. Four pairs of long, narrow windows in the narthex reflect not only traditional stories and symbols of Christianity, but also our social injustice throughout history. The north windows imagine St. Mark’s growing relationship with Jesus, while the south windows inspire viewers to consider contemporary responses to Christ.
The rectory was built in 1950-1951 after a design by Frederick Dunn. The William Scarlett Parish House was designed by Norton-Higginbotham and dedicated in 1955. Powers Bowersox Associates designed an addition to provide an elevator for access for people with disabilities in 2010.
Vital Stats:
Church name: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Address: 4714 Clifton Ave.
City: St. Louis
Phone: 314-832-3588
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.saintmarks-stl.org/
Worship Service: Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with hymns
(In person and Facebook livestream)
- The Rev. Mark Kozielec, Rector
- The Rev. Dr. Teresa K.M. Danieley, Priest Associate
- The Rev. Jerre Birdsong, Deacon
Membership: 169
Average Attendance: 66
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Louis