History

St. Mark's came into being in 1849 through the vision and initiative of missionary minded clergy at the College of St. James and dedicated laity in Washington County, Maryland. Built on ground given by Dr. James Thomas Maddox, the church building which still serves the congregation to this day was dedicated on the 25th day of July 1849. In the Fall of 1862, the Battle of Antietam raged not more than six miles south of St. Mark's, and the church was closed for a few months due to battle damage. In 1899 the congregation of St. Paul's Sharpsburg was recognized by Convention as Antietam Parish, with Saint Mark's as a separate congregation within the Parish bounds, served by the same Rector. That same year, Miss Anne Maddox donated the funds used to build the Rectory, (renamed "The Walter McKinley Center in 2001), on land adjacent to the church.

                  (To view larger photographs click on pictures)

 In 1917, the Rev. Walter B. McKinley became Rector. His 39 years spanned two World Wars, the "Roaring Twenties", the "Great Depression" and the Korean conflict. Life at Saint Mark's saw the formation of an Vested Choir in 1923 and the installation of a Moeller pipe organ in 1927, also donated by Miss Anne Maddox. As the "Centennial Anniversary" of St. Mark's approached, the entire interior of the church was redecorated and furnished.  The existing Parish House was dedicated in 1955 having been built from a portion of a bequest from Mr. George Wilson. In May 1977, during the tenure of the Rev. Charles McGinley, an addition to the church was built with a sacristy, choir and clergy vesting area and storage for altar ware and worship accessories.
 

In November of 1980, the Vestry, under the counsel of the Rt. Rev. David K. Leighton, Bishop of Maryland, agreed in a "venture in faith" to separate from St. Paul's Sharpsburg, thus ending a "yoking" arrangement which had existed for eighty years. Today the congregation is growing as more and more families move into the area, as others in the community come seeking a refreshment for their faith, and as the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of members through the years "continue steadfastly' in the faith they have learned.