A History of St. Mark's
Reprinted with the permission of Hazel Varella
February 13th, 1966 was a significant occasion in the history of St. Mark's Episcopal Mission Church: it's fiftieth anniversary. A special thanksgiving service was celebrated with five charter members present: Mrs. Frank Copeland (Frances Smith), Miss May Erving, Mrs. Dorothy Forbes (Ruth Spooner), Mrs. Frank Hamblin (Margaret Thompson), and Mr. Howard Thompson. These faithful members and others had assembled on a snowy February 13th, 1916 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thompson, 196 Main Street, (no longer standing), to participate in an Episcopal service conducted by Rev. W. W. Love, Diocesan Missionary. The eleven who were present decided to meet again the following Sunday; thiry-five attended the second Sunday. Space was rented on the second floor of a Main Street store. Here services were conducted for approxiamately ten years.
In October 1926 arrangements were made to rent the former Baptist Church that had been built in 1893 at 91 Center Street. Through the efforts and generosity of members and friends the building was purchased in early 1928 and renovated. Mr. Howard Thompson wrote: "The solemnity and beauty of the consecration service and the sight of the white edifice shining in the sunlight formed a memory in the hearts of those present never to be forgotten."
Church suppers, youth musicals, and activities of St. Mark's Guild provided not only many hours of fellowship but also a means of supporting the mission financially. On February 8th, 1941, to observe the mission's twenty-fifth anniversary, a special candlelight ceremony was conducted.
Disaster occurred about 9:30 P.M. Halloween night in 1943 when most of the interior of the edifice was burned. The fire, which apparently was caused by defective electrical switches, was battled by the North Easton and South Easton fire departments aided by a Brockton unit. Many members were discouraged when they inspected the charred building; the damage was assessed at $9,000. However, the offers of help from five local churches were extremely encouraging in this time of despair. For the next eighteen months the membership met in the Swedish Lutheran Church (now the Masonic Temple on Williams Street). By the spring of 1945, the chapel had been cleaned and repainted by the men of the parish, and services were conducted there.
The following years were extremely active ones for an inspired group of church members. The church was completely renovated, and the services of the first resident rector, Rev. George Keirstead, were acquired. Under his leadership a vital part of the church, the church school program, was strengthened. Pupils from outlying sections of Easton came by bus each Sunday, a unique idea at the time.
Although the first rectory at 16 Hayward Street was relatively close, the members were finally able in 1952 to purchase the adjacent property. The three-story house was at first used as a combined rectory and parish center. By the early 1960s the barn was converted into a parish center with a large meeting hall and kitchen on the first floor and the church schoolrooms in the basement.
In the 1980's due to fiscal constraints, the membership decided to sell the adjacent property and convert the basement of the church into a meeting area and kitchen. These plans have resulted in a location for church fairs, arts and crafts activities, youth groups, and religious education.
The membership expanded during the 1990's with many new families assuming active and committed roles in the evolution of St. Marks's. In 1994 St. Mark's was one of three churches to form the Bristol Cluster; the other churches are St. John's the Evangelist, Mansfield and St. John's, Taunton. The most important accomplishment occurred at the Diocesan Convention in the fall of 1999, when St. Mark's gained parish status. As the new century begins, the future of St. Mark's is inspiring and enthusiastic.....
