About Us
History
In 1891 a small group of Episcopalians in Orchard Park, New York (then called East Hamburg) organized a mission church, Saint Mark's, which in the fall of that year received Episcopal sanction by The Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York, The Rt. Rev. Cleveland Coxe.
The spark that ignited this official beginning had been struck the year before on July 21, 1890, when The Rev. Charles Smith, Rector of St. James’ Church, Buffalo, conducted the first service. Through the courtesy of the members of the Presbyterian Church, the service was held in that house of worship.
On April 17, 1892 a lot for the church building was purchased for $175, near the northeast end of what is now Potter Avenue. Seven months later on November 25, the cornerstone was laid for the frame building with a wooden tower, and on Easter Day, April 7, 1893, The Rt. Rev. David Willian Walker, Bishop of North Dakota, conducted the formal opening service. He was assisted by The Rev. Mr. Smith and The Rev. A.H. Mellen, the newly appointed Missionary-in-Charge.
In 1900 Saint Mark’s had its first resident minister, The Rev. Edwin Stevens, who served five years. During this time, a guild hall was built in back of the church. It was a wooden building with a meeting hall and kitchen. Before Mr. Stevens came, Mr. Solon Willey had bought and given to the church a rectory on 6630 East Quaker Street.
Following Mr. Stevens there were a number of supply clergy until Saint Mark’s called The Rev. Harry Bruce, who took up his duties on May 1, 1914. The next year a new bell, paid for by subscriptions, was rung for the first time on Easter Day. Mr. Bruce left in June 1916, and after a year, The Rev. Frank Marchant came to Saint Mark’s on October 24, 1917. In 1924 a lot at the southwest corner of East Quaker and Potter Avenue was bought for church purposes from Frank Folsom and his sister Mary.
After great controversy, causing much dissention, the church was moved from its position on the east side of Potter Avenue across the street to its present location on the new lot. This occurred in 1925 when the congregation numbered 58, and The Rev. Pal Hoffman, who came in 1924, was the minister. The wooden structure with the tower was then given a veneer of red brick.
When The Rev. Dr. Arnold Verduin became Priest-in-Charge of the Mission of Saint Mark’s in 1946, he took up residence in a different rectory on East Quaker Street across from the previous rectory, which had been sold in 1936. With a full time resident minister in charge, Saint Mark’s enjoyed a spurt in growth that allowed it to advance from mission status to become a full-fledged parish in 1947.
Following World War II, Orchard Park realized a surge of growth, as new homes were built and many young families moved into the community, and Saint Mark’s Church accordingly grew in proportion. The Rev. Harry W. Heermans, called as Rector in October 1949, presided over Saint Mark’s activities for the next 29 years until his retirement in October 1978.
The congregation of 58 members in the year 1924 had by 1949 grown to 132 families and the annual church budget was $8,081. By 1954 the growing congregation needed additional space, and accordingly a $100,000 enlargement project was completed, increasing the seating capacity from 107 to 254 persons. This project also incorporated a new vestibule, a side aisle, chancel and sanctuary, as well as adding a kitchen and siderooms downstairs.
Five years later 1959, Saint Mark’s built a new rectory at 23 Potter Avenue for $32,000, raised the old rectory, and paved a parking lot at its place. In the church, the proper red carpeting was put down, and the stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ were designed especially for Saint Mark’s and put in place by James O’Hara of Pike Stained Glass Studios, Rochester, New York.
By 1966, Saint Mark’s needed more room, thus for $110,000, an added educational unit, which included the downstairs large meeting room, and upstairs, the Rector’s study, an office, three classrooms, and the Vestry Room was built. In 1973 Leonard Carlson of the Carlson Organ Company, personally designed, constructed and installed a Carlson Organ for Saint Mark’s. The $32,000 cost of this operation was completely paid for within one year.
Following the retirement of Mr. Heermans in October 1978, the parish called The Rev. Roy D. Green, who commenced his duties only one month later on November 1, 1978.
Mrs. Julie Martz, a dedicated parishioner, in 1980 founded the thrift shop called “The Mark." This occupied a room at Saint Mark’s where quality clothing was modestly priced, and each year the profit was given way to worthy community, charitable, and church projects. In 1987 a columbarium was designed and installed in the Saint Mark’s tower room.
When Dr. Green left in 1987 the parish, after a year of self-evaluation, Saint Mark's extended a call to The Rev. Charles W. Whitmore whose pastorate began in September 1988.
So it is that over those one hundred years (1891-1991), the little band of Orchard Park Episcopalians grew from those few families to a congregation of 58 in 1925, and since then has increased to the present 2007 congregation of 258 families. It is now one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Western New York.
All mortgages have been paid; Saint Mark’s is debt-free. All of this been accomplished while at the same time always and without fail, the parish has met its obligations and more to the Diocese, the National Church, and World Mission.
An historical account such as this, unfortunately, can depict only the material and physical growth of a parish. The spiritual health, which is of course of deeper significance, is not something subject to measure by buildings and by dollars.
After 18 years of faithful service, The Rev. Charles W. Whitmore retired in January 2007. Our new Rector is Rev. Sean T. Leonard.
Saint Mark’s is a loving and caring congregation. It shows this in its outreach to the poor, the needed, the sick, and the bereaved. Saint Mark’s is a parish family with a deep commitment to God, and a loving concern for its neighbors, and as Jesus said, (Matthew 22:40) “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Last Modified: 2008-08-05 10:42:56