St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia
Encyclopedia
St Mark's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, at 1625 Locust St, Center City, Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
, is an Episcopal church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. It is part of the Diocese of Pennsylvania
.
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The church was founded in the mid-19th Century as part of the Tractarian Oxford Movement
revival in the Anglican Church. The building was built by John Notman
in the Gothic Revival
style between 1847 and 1849, based on an original design by English architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter
. The tower was designed by Notman, and completed in 1865 by George Hewitt
. The Lady Chapel was designed by Cope & Stewardson
in the Late Decorated Gothic style. It was built in 1900; the ceiling is the first known example in the US of a stone vault. Both construction of the chapel and its furnishings were donated by Rodman Wanamaker
in memory of his late wife. Because of its architectural quality and significance, the building has been designated a National Historic Landmark
(NHL).
The church contains several ornaments by Charles Eamer Kempe
; the Lady Chapel was originally decorated entirely according to Kempe's designs. When it was later redecorated, the altar
was moved to the head of the north aisle to become the St. John's Altar. The polychrome
d figures were moved throughout the church, while the original stained glass
remains in place. The church also has several Kempe frontals, representing a significant proportion of the surviving embroideries from that firm, some of which are still in occasional use. The Lady Chapel now contains a world-renowned silver altar with nearly 150 individually sculpted saints and scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. It is humorously said of this altar that it is "The only place where one can worship both God and Mammon
at the same time."
The tower is one of about fifty in North America hung for change-ringing, with a ring of eight bells. The bells were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. The heavy four bells were cast in 1876 and the light four were cast in 1878. The bells were restored for change-ringing in 1999.
The 1936-1937 Aeolian-Skinner organ Op. 948 at the front of the church was designed and voiced by G. Donald Harrison
. It is an early example of Harrison's American Classic style. The church also contains a String Organ given by Rodman Wanamaker
and installed by the Wanamaker Organ Shop. The Screen Organ, which resides in a handsomely carved case situated between the Choir and Lady Chapel, dates from the 1902 Austin organ, which was voiced by British organbuilder Carleton Michell. In 2004 the Organ Historical Society rescinded its 1982 historical organ citation after the organ was expanded with digital voices and a new console built by Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders. Matthew Glandorf is the Organist and Choirmaster and Tom Sheehan is the Assistant Organist.
In the summer of 2008, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania voted to allow St. Mark's to adopt the Church of St. James the Less
as a mission of St. Mark's.
The church maintains a daily Mass
schedule, as well as running a food cupboard and soup kitchen. The Reverend Sean E. Mullen, is the 14th Rector of the parish. The Associate Rector is the Reverend Erika Takacs. Assisting clergy are the Reverends Nicholas B. Phelps, Marie Z. Swayze, and Joseph N. Wildsmith. Ministry Intern is Dr. Peter Kountz.
Center City, Philadelphia
Center City, or Downtown Philadelphia includes the central business district and central neighborhoods of the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. As of 2005, its population of over 88,000 made it the third most populous downtown in the United States, after New York City's and Chicago's...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, is an Episcopal church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition. It is part of the Diocese of Pennsylvania
Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania
The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America encompassing the counties of Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware in the state of Pennsylvania....
.
History
Oxford Movement
The Oxford Movement was a movement of High Church Anglicans, eventually developing into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose members were often associated with the University of Oxford, argued for the reinstatement of lost Christian traditions of faith and their inclusion into Anglican liturgy...
revival in the Anglican Church. The building was built by John Notman
John Notman
John Notman was a Scottish-born American architect, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is remembered for his churches, and for popularizing the Italianate style and the use of brownstone.-Career:...
in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style between 1847 and 1849, based on an original design by English architect Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter
Richard Cromwell Carpenter was an English architect. He is chiefly remembered as an ecclesiastical and tractarian architect working in the Gothic style.-Family:...
. The tower was designed by Notman, and completed in 1865 by George Hewitt
G. W. & W. D. Hewitt
G. W. & W. D. Hewitt was a prominent architectural firm in the eastern United States at the turn of the twentieth century. It was founded in Philadelphia in 1878, by brothers George Wattson Hewitt and William Dempster Hewitt , both members of the American Institute of Architects...
. The Lady Chapel was designed by Cope & Stewardson
Cope & Stewardson
Cope & Stewardson was an architecture firm best known for its academic building and campus designs. The firm is often regarded as a Master of the Collegiate Gothic style. Walter Cope and John Stewardson established the firm in 1885, and were later joined by Emlyn Stewardson in 1887...
in the Late Decorated Gothic style. It was built in 1900; the ceiling is the first known example in the US of a stone vault. Both construction of the chapel and its furnishings were donated by Rodman Wanamaker
Rodman Wanamaker
Lewis Rodman Wanamaker was a Republican and was a Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania in 1916. Wanamaker created aviation history by financing a two plane experimental seaplane class in response to a prize contest announcement by London's The Daily Mail newspaper in 1913 – the flying boat...
in memory of his late wife. Because of its architectural quality and significance, the building has been designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
(NHL).
The church contains several ornaments by Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
; the Lady Chapel was originally decorated entirely according to Kempe's designs. When it was later redecorated, the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
was moved to the head of the north aisle to become the St. John's Altar. The polychrome
Polychrome
Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
d figures were moved throughout the church, while the original stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
remains in place. The church also has several Kempe frontals, representing a significant proportion of the surviving embroideries from that firm, some of which are still in occasional use. The Lady Chapel now contains a world-renowned silver altar with nearly 150 individually sculpted saints and scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. It is humorously said of this altar that it is "The only place where one can worship both God and Mammon
Mammon
Mammon is a term, derived from the Christian Bible, used to describe material wealth or greed, most often personified as a deity, and sometimes included in the seven princes of Hell.-Etymology:...
at the same time."
The tower is one of about fifty in North America hung for change-ringing, with a ring of eight bells. The bells were cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London. The heavy four bells were cast in 1876 and the light four were cast in 1878. The bells were restored for change-ringing in 1999.
The 1936-1937 Aeolian-Skinner organ Op. 948 at the front of the church was designed and voiced by G. Donald Harrison
G. Donald Harrison
George Donald Harrison crafted some of the finest and largest pipe organs in the United States. He started out in 1914 as a patent attorney but after military service he began to pursue an interest in pipe organ building working with Henry Willis & Sons of London.After immigrating to America,...
. It is an early example of Harrison's American Classic style. The church also contains a String Organ given by Rodman Wanamaker
Rodman Wanamaker
Lewis Rodman Wanamaker was a Republican and was a Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania in 1916. Wanamaker created aviation history by financing a two plane experimental seaplane class in response to a prize contest announcement by London's The Daily Mail newspaper in 1913 – the flying boat...
and installed by the Wanamaker Organ Shop. The Screen Organ, which resides in a handsomely carved case situated between the Choir and Lady Chapel, dates from the 1902 Austin organ, which was voiced by British organbuilder Carleton Michell. In 2004 the Organ Historical Society rescinded its 1982 historical organ citation after the organ was expanded with digital voices and a new console built by Cornel Zimmer Organ Builders. Matthew Glandorf is the Organist and Choirmaster and Tom Sheehan is the Assistant Organist.
In the summer of 2008, the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania voted to allow St. Mark's to adopt the Church of St. James the Less
Church of St. James the Less
The Church of St. James the Less is a historic Episcopal church building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was architecturally influential. As St...
as a mission of St. Mark's.
The church maintains a daily Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
schedule, as well as running a food cupboard and soup kitchen. The Reverend Sean E. Mullen, is the 14th Rector of the parish. The Associate Rector is the Reverend Erika Takacs. Assisting clergy are the Reverends Nicholas B. Phelps, Marie Z. Swayze, and Joseph N. Wildsmith. Ministry Intern is Dr. Peter Kountz.
External links
- Official website
- Listing and photographs at the Historic American Buildings SurveyHistoric American Buildings SurveyThe Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
- The bells
- The Organ
- Letter about St. Mark's bells controversy from Anglicans OnlineAnglicans onlineAnglicans Online is an unofficial weekly news magazine of the Anglican Communion. Its editorial staff is private and unaffiliated. A project of the Society of Archbishop Justus founded in 1994, AO includes more than 30,000 links and has more than 250,000 readers. calls it 'a kind voice in what...
- Aerial photograph
- Map
- Mystery worshipper reports: http://ship-of-fools.com/Mystery/2000/229Mystery.html, http://ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2007/1348.html, http://ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2007/1361.html