St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (Seattle)
Encyclopedia
St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral
in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., is the seat of the bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
. St. Mark's was founded as a mission church of Trinity Episcopal Parish Church (Seattle)
.
Plans for the building, located on the west side of 10th Avenue E. between E. Highland Drive and E. Galer Street on Capitol Hill
, were drawn up in 1926. Fundraising took place for two years until construction began in 1928. Ground was broken on September 30, 1928. The Great Depression
took a toll on the parish, however. Construction was incomplete when the cathedral was dedicated on April 25, 1931, and the parish was in default on its mortgage throughout the 1930s. The cathedral was foreclosed
upon in 1941 and shut for the next two years. The United States Army
made use of the building in 1943 and 1944.
In 1944, Bishop S. Arthur Huston reopened discussions with the parish's bankers in St. Louis, Missouri
; over the next three years, more funds were raised, and in 1947 the mortgage was paid off. The mortgage document was burned before the Parish on Palm Sunday.
St. Mark's Cathedral is located at the top of a very steep dropoff to Lakeview Boulevard E. below. The wooded hillside is known as the St. Mark's Greenbelt
.
The Very Reverend Dean
Robert V. Taylor of St. Mark's resigned abruptly in March 2008, stating that he and the vestry (church board) diverged in their visions for the future of St. Mark's and there was a loss of trust between them.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., is the seat of the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, also known as the Episcopal Church in Western Washington, is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in Washington state west of the Cascade Range. It is one of 17 dioceses and an area mission that make up Province 8. The diocese started as a missionary district in 1853...
. St. Mark's was founded as a mission church of Trinity Episcopal Parish Church (Seattle)
Trinity Episcopal Parish Church (Seattle)
Trinity Episcopal Church is an historic church located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington and is an Episcopal congregation in the Diocese of Olympia.-History of Trinity Episcopal Church:...
.
Plans for the building, located on the west side of 10th Avenue E. between E. Highland Drive and E. Galer Street on Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington
Capitol Hill is the most densely populated residential district in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the center of the city's gay and counterculture communities, and is one of the city's most prominent nightlife and entertainment districts....
, were drawn up in 1926. Fundraising took place for two years until construction began in 1928. Ground was broken on September 30, 1928. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
took a toll on the parish, however. Construction was incomplete when the cathedral was dedicated on April 25, 1931, and the parish was in default on its mortgage throughout the 1930s. The cathedral was foreclosed
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
upon in 1941 and shut for the next two years. The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
made use of the building in 1943 and 1944.
In 1944, Bishop S. Arthur Huston reopened discussions with the parish's bankers in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
; over the next three years, more funds were raised, and in 1947 the mortgage was paid off. The mortgage document was burned before the Parish on Palm Sunday.
St. Mark's Cathedral is located at the top of a very steep dropoff to Lakeview Boulevard E. below. The wooded hillside is known as the St. Mark's Greenbelt
St. Mark's Greenbelt
The St. Marks Green Belt, in Seattle, Washington, borders East Blaine Street to the west, 10th Ave East to the east. The northern and southern borders are vague at best mixed with trees and houses. The greenbelt helps buffer the noise from I-5 from Capitol Hill. A trail entrance at the Lefler House...
.
The Very Reverend Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
Robert V. Taylor of St. Mark's resigned abruptly in March 2008, stating that he and the vestry (church board) diverged in their visions for the future of St. Mark's and there was a loss of trust between them.
External links
- Cathedral website
- St. Mark's Greenbelt on the Seattle Parks and Recreation web site
- Priscilla Long, Seattle's St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral opens in 1930, HistoryLink.org Essay 3223, April 19, 2001.