In the fall of 1860, the citizens of Baltimore were caught up in a contentious presidential campaign, as a national schism over slavery and states' rights loomed. In Baltimore's Lutheran community, a debate of another kind drew out, as members of First English Lutheran Church were unable--after more than forty ballots--to give either of two pastoral candidates the necessary two-thirds vote for approval. Finally, the majority engaged their choice as temporary pastor; the minority withdrew to form Baltimore's fourth English-speaking Lutheran congregation, taking the name of St. Mark's Evangelical English Lutheran Church.

Their courage and faith in founding a new church on Eutaw Street in Baltimore's growing downtown would sustain them through more than three decades. (This church is pictured at the right.) From the start, a Sunday School was central to St. Mark's mission. In the mid 1890s, as the surrounding neighborhood became increasingly commercial, the church sought a new location more convenient to the majority of the members as well as a building more suited "to meet the demands of Christian work," especially a Sunday School.

The site selected, at the corner of St. Paul and Twentieth streets, was then a growing residential "suburb." A prominent Baltimore architect, Joseph Evans Sperry, designed a magnificent edifice (pictured at the left) with a large space for Christian education. The Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of New York City decorated the nave. The Italian Romanesque-style building was dedicated on 6 November 1898.

In the years through World War II, the congregation grew to some 800 communing members with a thriving Sunday School. After the war, the surrounding community went through major change as the suburbs grew and new Lutheran congregations emerged to serve them. While St. Mark's congregation decreased significantly, the 1980s brought renewal with emphasis on liturgy, music, outreach, and ecumenism. Our adoption in 1985 of a statement welcoming gay and lesbian persons was an important step toward intentional inclusiveness.

Today, St. Mark's vitality springs from the diversity of its members. While many are lifelong Lutherans, others come from varying backgrounds and bring many gifts and talents that enrich our life together as the people of God. Our members are drawn from the city and surrounding counties. We are one of 180 congregations comprising the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition to our involvement with other Lutherans, we also seek ecumenical relationships with other faith communities as well as community organizations and a local public school. Worshiping God is the central act of St. Mark's community.

Our mission--"to embrace diversity, practice hospitality, and make known Christ's presence in word and deed"--continues to inspire all that we do.

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October 23: St. Mark's Evangelical English Lutheran Church organized by 113 individuals, 101 of whom were members from First English Lutheran Church.

November 4: First worship service held.

November 11: First Sunday School, Dr. W.M. Kemp (right) as superintendent.

December 1: The Rev. Dr. Theophilus Stork (left) became first pastor.

December 12: The Ladies Contributing Society organized with 117 members.

February: Third Presbyterian Church building purchased for $10,500. (This red brick building is pictured near top of the page on the right.)

March: The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Stork (left) preached first sermon as assistant to his father and was ordained in November.

April 19: The church was draped in mourning for a memorial service in honor of President Lincoln.

July 1: The Rev. Charles Stork succeeded his father, who had resigned due to ill health.

October: Special contribution in observance of the Reformation Jubilee included $1,200 to establish a new St. Mark's Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

March 8: After thorough remodeling, the Eutaw Street church was rededicated.

November 5: The Rev. Dr. Charles S. Albert (right) assumed duties as pastor.

September: the first issue of the St. Mark's Quarterly.

October: Common Service introduced in the regular congregational worship. (The Common Service drew upon the 16th century Lutheran liturgies, and helped bring liturgical unity among American Lutheran churches using English.)

November: St. John's Circle, King's Daughters was organized with eight members. (Founded in 1886, the national Order was about "the development of spiritual life and the stimulation of Christian activities" and included Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, and other Christians.)

November 25: St. Mark's made a major contribution to the new Christ Church building at Charles and Hill streets.

October: Pastor Albert resigned to become literary editor of the Lutheran Publication Society (an 1855 predecessor of Augsburg Fortress, Publishers, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).

June 17: The Rev. Dr. William H. Dunbar (left) installed as pastor.

September: Luther League organized (founded 1888, the league encouraged young people in Christian activities and was the forerunner to the Lutheran Youth Organization).

November 20: Congregation voted to select a new location.

October 16: Present site at St. Paul and 20th streets purchased for $18,000.

October 30: Last service held at Eutaw Street church.

November 6: Dedication of new St. Mark's Lutheran Church building. Total cost of the new building was approximately $110,000.

December 15: Old Eutaw Street church building sold for $30,000.

October: On the 50th anniversary, St. Mark's paid off the debt on the new St. Paul Street building.

The congregation began supporting Dr. Isaac Cannady, a missionary to India.

September 7: Pastor Dunbar resigned due to ill health and became pastor emeritus.

February 3: The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Clare (above left) became pastor.

November: Two memorial windows installed--the medallion window (pictured at right) near the organ was given by Mrs. Elizabeth Kiel in memory of her mother and daughter, and the Good Shepherd window was given by Mrs. W.W. Davis in memory of her husband.

November 11: World War I ended on Armistice Day. During the war, sixty men and women entered the service; one was killed in action. The congregation was active in the Red Cross and other organizations and contributed more than $6,000 to national, denominational, and other agencies.

May 11: A bronze tablet designed by Baltimore sculptor Hans Schuler was mounted on the west wall of the sanctuary outside the sacristy in memory of the Rev. Dr. Charles S. Albert.

January 12: The church's name was changed to St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, dropping the designation "English."

July: Pew rents were discontinued. The practice of renting pews was typical in several denominations throughout much of the 19th century and well into the 20th. Members paid an annual fee for the right to occupy a particular pew week after week. Typically the pews up front were more expensive. The rents had been a major source of St. Mark's income. The numbers remain on the pews.

December: The name of St. Mark's Quarterly changed to St. Mark's Tydings and continued until 1934, when replaced by a consolidated annual report.

November: St. Mark's Endowment Fund established with an initial gift of $1,000.

October: The Rev. Donald Clare, son of Pastor Robert Clare, became assistant pastor and served until February 1939.

September 30: The Koinonia, a social and service group of married couples, was organized.

St. Paul Street, 1945. photograph by A. Aubrey Bodine, copyright © Jennifer B. Bodine

March 1: St. Mark's welcomed home 124 members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

July 7: The Ark, a group of young couples, was organized.

January 11: After 30 years of service, Pastor Robert Clare retired and became the pastor emeritus.

April 15: The Rev. Paul H. Smith (right) became pastor.

February 12: The Rev. Elmar Pahn assigned to St. Mark's to work among Baltimore Estonians.

January 1: The Rev. Uno A. Plank became pastor of the Estonian congregation.

May: A Board of Christian Education appointed to promote and perpetuate the congregation's educational program.

December: A local group of Latvians were invited to worship at St. Mark's.

June 3: The Rev. Robert Mack, a son of St. Mark's, was ordained.

September 1: The Rev. John Yost (left) became pastor.

October 23: The 100th anniversary service (preceded by a dinner at the Sheraton-Baltimore on October 21).

September 29: The Rev. Kenneth L. Kilheffer installed as assistant pastor and served through February 1965.

October 4: James Morris, future Metropolitan Opera star (right), joined St. Mark's choir as baritone soloist.

April: St. Mark's served as a distribution center to assist "innocent victims" of the Baltimore riots following the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

September 30: Last service of Pastor John Yost.

May 1: The Rev. Peter W.F. Nodyne (right) became pastor.

June 15: Mid-Town Community Churches Association (MCCA) opened a Drop-in Center for seniors at St. Mark's.

April 17: The Rev. John W. Siegmund, Jr., a son of St. Mark's, was ordained in the Marienkirche, Lübeck, Germany.

September 15: Pastor Nodyne's last Sunday at St. Mark's.

March 4: The Rev. Dr. Bryce W. Shoemaker (left) became pastor.

June: The Rev. Dale W. Dusman (right) called as pastor.

St. Mark's became the first Lutheran congregation in the synod to adopt the Reconciling in Christ affirmation of welcome to gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons.

St. Mark's housed a winter homeless shelter for women and children until 1990.

January 4: James Harp (left) became cantor.

October 13: Pastor Shoemaker died of a heart attack while in London.

March 13: St. Mark's Concert Association (later St. Cecilia Society) organized.

January 5: Newly restored exterior dedicated.

August 18: The Rev. David Ernat, a son of St. Mark's, ordained.

January 30: The Rev. Michael Guy, a son of St. Mark's, ordained.

January 8: New Patrick J. Murphy organ dedicated (photo of console at right).

St. Mark's exterior designated a Baltimore City historic landmark.

October 16: The Rev. Theresa Langdon, a daughter of St. Mark's, ordained.

October 23: A banquet for the 150th anniversary at Zion Lutheran Church.

October 24: The congregation celebrated its 150th anniversary.

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