Key Dates & Events in St. Mark’s History

  • 1859 – Organization of St. Mark’s by the Rev. G. D. Bernheim, D.D. – Pastor from 1861- 1865
  • 1870 – Cornerstone laying of 2nd church – 510 North Tryon Street
  • 1872 – Dedication of 2nd Church
  • 1885 – Organization of Women’s Missionary Society
  • 1885 – Cornerstone laying of 3rd church – 416 N. Tryon Street
  • 1890 – Dedication of 3rd church
  • 1890 – Organization of Ladies Aid Society

  • 1909 – Golden Jubilee Celebration of Organization of St. Mark’s – 50th Anniversary celebration
  • 1909 – Organization of Brotherhood of St. Mark’s
  • 1915 – Organization of Luther League
  • 1917 – Celebration of 400th Anniversary of Protestant Reformation
  • 1919 – Work begun on Education Building on 3rd church
  • 1920 – Graded lessons introduced in Primary Department
  • 1920 – Cornerstone laying of Education Building
  • 1920 – First service in Educational Building

  • 1922 – Reopening of redecorated church
  • 1923 – New Constitution adopted by the congregation providing rotation in office of councilmen
  • 1924 – Organization of Business Women’s Group of W.M.S.
  • 1924 – Graded lessons introduced in Junior and Intermediate Departments
  • J1925 – Sunday School introduced full graded course

  • 1935 – Golden Jubilee Convention – Supper given by W.M.S.
  • 1935 – 50th Anniversary of cornerstone laying of 3rd church
  • 1935 – 76th Anniversary of organization of St. Mark’s
  • 1935 – 418th celebration of Protestant Reformation

  • 1955 – Purchase of parsonage – 226 Huntley Place
  • 1956 – Purchase of new church site: Queens and Edgehill Roads
  • 1957 – Campaign for $300,000 for new church
  • 1958 – Addition of Associate Pastor to church staff
  • 1959 – Celebration of St. Mark’s Centennial

  • 1960 – Congregation moved into new and present home – 1001 Queens Road
  • 1984 – Combination of month long celebration of 125th Anniversary of St. Mark’s with worship service similar to 1859 liturgy and music

  • 1990 – Dedication of prayer garden an columbarium on Edgehill Road
  • 1993 – Partnership with Ascension Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod for Charlotte Lutheran School
  • 1995 – Improvements to organ and installation of second organ and trumpet-enchamade
  • 1999 – Ground breaking for new facilities

  • 2000 – Dedication of the new church facilities
  • 2009 – Kickoff for year long activities in celebration of St. Mark’s 150th Anniversary

Other Historical Events in 1859

  • James Buchanan is President
  • Oregon in admitted as the 33rd U.S. State
  • “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens is published
  • Ground is broken for Suez Canal
  • Charles Blondin crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope for the first time
  • Pike’s Peak Gold Rush begins in the Colorado Territory
  • Big Ben becomes operational in London
  • John Brown raids the Harpers Ferry Armory in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, in an unsuccessful bid to spark a general slave rebellion
  • The steamship, Royal Charter, is wrecked on the cost of Anglesey, Wales with 454 dead
  • The Cape Lookout, N.C., lighthouse is lit for the first time
  • Militant leader John Brown is hanged for his October 16 raid on Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia