Saint Mark's History - Continued

The Faithful People of Saint Mark’s

It is the many people of Saint Mark’s who have made this community of souls a congregation of Christ’s Church.  In Christ, all are special and loved.  From the human perspective, however, certain names stand out through the years, perhaps for their exemplary dedication, their example, their fellowship or humor. 

One cannot forget the dedication of Father Brainard and his persistence to plant the church at Beaver Dam.  Or the work of Rev. Crittenton and his congregation in the 1880’s when they thoroughly updated the facilities, added electric lighting, and provided tasteful liturgical furnishings as memorials.  Many recall the twenty years of ministry of Father Tarrant who, despite not driving an automobile, served both Columbus and Beaver Dam and was active in Diocesan activities and governance as well.  Finally, many recall with fondness Deacon Curt Kenitz, who served Saint Mark’s and other congregations in the Diocese for nearly thirty years.

And there were many others, perhaps remembered less, but faithful servants known to the Lord for unselfishly and silently keeping the congregation going between rectorships or difficult times.  Some are mentioned in this writing, others are known only to the Lord, but to all of them we are grateful.

Ordinands from Saint Mark’s

Several souls at Saint Mark’s were called to holy orders in the Episcopal Church.  In the late 1880’s all five sons of the Rev. S.S. Burleson became Episcopal priests.  One of them later became a bishop of the church, H.L. Burleson of South Dakota.  A priest who served briefly at Saint Mark’s in 1929-1930, Rev. Summerville Minnis, later became Bishop of Colorado. 

The Rev. Dr. Curtis F. Kenitz, Jr. of Mayville became a deacon of the Episcopal Church in 1965 and served Saint Mark’s and other congregations in the Diocese for many years until his death in 1995.  Dr. Kenitz was a well-known optometrist, an active Mason and supporter of local civic organizations.  His wife, Maryann, worked in close association with Deacon Kenitz those many years, and remains active with the ministries at Saint Mark’s.

Saint Mark’s Church Buildings in Beaver Dam

In 1856 a lot was purchased at the corner of Beaver and Front Streets (near the current Wisconsin Theatre) and a small “wood gothic” structure was built.  The cornerstone was laid at a service on May 15, 1858 conducted by Rev. S.S. Rupp of Watertown.  By 1860 the building was well furnished and debt-free and Bishop Kemper consecrated the building on August 3, 1863.

In 1865 the building was already found to be in disrepair and was relocated to the corner of East Maple and North Lincoln Streets (at that time the streets were named Middle and Division Streets).  A lot 65 by 120 feet was purchased at a cost of $275 and after eleven weeks of intense effort the structure was set in place at the new location.  At that point the congregation made $1,200 worth of improvements to the building.  The restored structure seated about 100 persons in the pews and had additional seating in a small balcony and in the sanctuary.  A bell was given as a memorial (R.F. Sweet Memorial Bell) and was placed in the tower behind newly constructed louvers.  During this renovation it was learned that the contents of the cornerstone were missing, so a replacement stone and contents were laid at a service on July 21, 1865 performed by Rev. William Drafter of Watertown.

In 1887 the building was substantially improved under Rev. Charles Crittenton.  A committee overseen by Mr. J.T. Smith and J.J. Clark oversaw a number of projects that cost about $1,000.  Among the enhancements were addition of electric lighting, addition of a sloped roof and fancy shingles, fresh paint, gilding of the cross on the tower, new red carpeting and stained glass windows in the nave.  A new wooden altar was given by the Rev. Charles Crittenton, rector, as a memorial to his wife and nephew.  A dossal cloth and pole was added behind the altar.

In 1893 the building was enlarged by using the chancel as a sanctuary and choir area and extending the building to the North.  New pews and cushions were added as well, provided by the Women’s Guild.  A small office was added to the rear of the building.

In 1913 Saint Agnes Guild arranged for the interior to be calcimined and new flooring laid.  The Guild sponsored many events, many of them by necessity were held in other buildings such as the hotel and Masonic Temple and local businesses, because of the lack of a social hall at the church.

In the 1920’s a basement was dug using volunteer labor and the lower area was fashioned into a parish hall.  The new space contained a kitchen, rest rooms, furnace room and a guildhall, which could be divided with curtains into church school areas.  The Saint Agnes Guild contributed greatly to the furnishing of the kitchen and guildhall, which became known as “Saint Agnes Hall.”  By 1935 other guilds and parish groups used the hall and it was renamed “Saint Mark’s Hall.”

In 1935 the vicar proposed to Saint Agnes Guild an addition at the rear of the building with a study and living quarters for clergy.  However, the Guild did not support the concept and that particular addition did not materialize.

The church carried out a thorough remodeling of the interior during 1946-1947 and at the same time a new electronic organ was installed. 

In 1958 the congregation again discovered the cornerstone contents unaccounted for.  Perhaps the stone had been opened for the 1955 centennial.  Nevertheless, another stone was laid at a ceremony May 19, 1958.  News articles and a program from the ceremony mention that a cross, Bible, Book of Common Prayer, Hymnal and church records were inserted into the stone.

In 1965 a rectory was purchased for $19,750 at 146 Prospect Avenue for use of the clergy.  For many years prior to that time Saint Mark’s and Saint Paul’s, Columbus, shared clergy who lived in the rectory at Columbus. 

In 1977 the congregation commissioned a “Report on Expansion Alternatives” from the Mark Pfaller and Associates firm.  Options included: remodeling and expanding the wood frame building at a cost of up to $125,000; rebuilding on the same site; and building a new building of 6,000 square feet on a new site at a cost of $218,000-$285,000. There were also discussions with builders about potential building plans for a new structure. 

Then, in May 1978, an emergency Vestry meeting was called to discuss the availability of an existing Assembly of God church structure in Beaver Dam.  The congregation was also invited to an “open house” at the building the next Sunday afternoon.  The building was purchased August 1, 1978 and the first service was planned for October.

The new Saint Mark’s was located at 700 East Mill Street.  The new building was unfinished in some areas and modifications were made to the building immediately, including additional stonework, addition of an altar and altar rail, construction of sacristies, addition of a steeple, a guest bookshelf and repainting.  The organ from the old church was re-installed.  The R.F. Sweet Memorial bell was removed from old Saint Mark’s steeple and placed on a new rock platform in the courtyard.  The font (memorial to Roy M. Shepard) and liturgical furnishings were brought to the new sanctuary.  The new building was dedicated by Bishop C. T. Gaskell on Saint Mark’s Day, May 1979 at an evening service.  Father Maier, the previous rector, was present for the service.

The old Saint Mark’s building was sold to Murray Funeral Home the following year.  Many in the congregation and the community hoped that the building would be maintained for its historical significance.  As a result, some of the furnishings and stained glass windows purposely remained in the building after the sale.  Originally intended as a funeral chapel, the building was later used for worship services, and presently, for childcare.

Saint Mark’s Church is home to seven lovely stained glass windows depicting flowers as symbols of religious significance through the centuries.  They were commissioned by Nelson Hicks, a former member of Saint Mark’s, in memory of his wife.  Each window is an original design by the artist, a niece of Mr. Hicks living in Arizona.  Six of the windows are located in the nave (congregation) and one in a church Sacristy (vesting area).

The R.F. Sweet Memorial Bell

In 1866 the parish was presented with a memorial bell in memory of Rev. R. F. Sweet, vicar of Saint Mark’s from 1860-1865.  The bell was presented by ten friends and parishioners of Father Sweet and ten businesses, all noted in the casting, which was done in bronze by Jones and Co. Founders, Troy, New York.  The bell has an exceptional tone and has served Saint Mark’s for 140 years.  For most of those years it rang from the wooden steeple of old Saint Mark’s.  At the present facility on East Mill Street the bell stands on a stone mounting in the courtyard and is struck with an electric ringing mechanism and controlled from inside the building.  The original wood wheel, once used for ringing by rope, is displayed in the narthex.

Worship Traditions Through the Years

In early years Morning Prayer or the Eucharist was celebrated once on Sundays.  However, in a few instances due to departure of clergy, weeks or months passed and services were not held.  Sometimes services were held by visiting clergy from Horicon, Watertown or Columbus.  Several deacons assigned to Saint Mark’s could not celebrate the Eucharist and led Morning Prayer services instead.

In 1962 the parish began two worship services: 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. with Morning Prayer on the first Sundays.  This schedule was continued until the congregation focused on a single Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. in 2002.  A “coffee hour” or fellowship time after Sunday worship was initiated many years ago and continues to this day.

In recent years Saint Mark’s has been the host to regular community ecumenical Taize services.  A tradition of an international community centered in Taize, in the Burgundy area of France, Taize services offer meditation and prayer, moments of silence, repetitive singing and candlelight rituals designed to be a refuge in a hostile world.

Music and Parish Organs at Saint Mark’s

A melodeon (a type of reed organ) was donated to Saint Mark’s in 1854, before the first permanent building was erected.  The first pipe organ, a one-manual instrument, was installed in December, 1927 in time for Christmas services.  That organ was refurbished in 1944 by Mr. And Mrs. Ira Burtiss (Mrs. Burtiss was church organist). 

In conjunction with extensive remodeling of the church sanctuary in 1946 the pipe organ was replaced with a Hammond electric instrument.  Donations were made to purchase “keys” for the new organ and, along with several other memorials, sufficient funds were raised.  A total of 83 families and individuals, two women’s guilds and the youth of the parish provided gifts for the purchase.  A contract was signed with the Bradfords Organ Company of Milwaukee.  Although a strike at the plant slowed the delivery of the organ, it eventually arrived, probably by Christmas 1946.  For many years an array of organ pipes was retained at the left front of the church, symbolic of the past and for esthetic effect upon the advice of a church architecture firm.  The electronic organ was in service at Saint Mark’s until 2000.

In 2000 the congregation obtained and installed a two-manual Wicks Pipe Organ with “midi” sound generator capability.  The organ is self-contained in an oak case, with dampers, a swell pedal and a tremolo.  Barbara Panzer, the current organist at Saint Mark’s, blends the stops to fill the church with heavenly sounds true to a fine pipe organ instrument.

Saint Mark’s musical tradition includes chancel choirs for the past 80 years.  In the 1950’s the choir director was Carl Williams, who recruited talented choir members and as many as ten students and faculty from Wayland Academy.  In recent years a small choir continues to lead the congregation in hymns and to the responses in the Choral Eucharist.

The Women’s Guilds at Saint Mark’s

A Woman’s Guild existed in the 1800’s and assisted the clergy and congregation with a wide range of projects ranging from fundraising to church furnishings to social events and parish outreach.

In 1912 the activities of the guild were increased under the leadership of Archdeacon Mallory.  He called the women together and challenged them to conduct a citywide canvass to provide members with envelopes for contributions to the parish.  Perhaps realizing the gravity of this and other responsibilities, a guild member proposed a reorganization of the Women’s Guild with new by-laws and responsibilities.  The motion carried and at the next meeting of January 8, 1913 the Saint Agnes Guild was established.

Saint Agnes Guild met every second Wednesday at a member’s home from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and had rules that the “first two hours shall be spent sewing and refreshments shall be the last half hour” and “no business shall occur until at least 3 p.m.”  The first projects of the new guild were to repair the lettering on the altar frontal, to sell firewood at the church and to begin to pay the organist 25 cents a Sunday.  At a subsequent meeting the Archdeacon challenged the Guild with another new undertaking.  The church fire insurance policy, currently paid by the bishop, ought to be a parish responsibility.  The $1,000 policy cost $22 for a five-year term.  The women accepted the challenge, raised the coverage to $3,000 and paid the premium.

These examples demonstrate the extensive role the Guild had in the earlier days of the congregation.  The Guild was instrumental in fundraising and paid major church expenses, including furnishings, cleaning services, kitchen equipment, flowers and repairs.  The Guild also did extensive outreach to the community, the Diocese and the world with donations to numerous church organizations such as Saint John’s Home, Saint Francis House, Neighborhood House, Camp Webb and others.

Saint Agnes Guild handled most of the needlework associated with the altar and vestments.  They also stitched aprons, comforters, linens and clothes as donations to Saint John’s Home (Milwaukee) and for Christmas bazaars.  They regularly participated in quilt making, purchasing materials from their budget and challenging members to provide “squares” for the quilt, which was then donated to worthy causes.  The Saint Mark’s Sesquicentennial Quilts involve numerous individual efforts to produce “squares” some 80 years later.

Saint Agnes Guild also established a tradition called the “Christmas Stocking Project.”  In 1914 the Guild voted to spend time at their meetings sewing stockings for the church Christmas tree.  The project was repeated again the next year and grew into a longstanding parish tradition.  In 1955 the making and selling of colorful stockings brought many smiling faces and generated $110 for the centennial fund.  This tradition has spanned 90 years as an annual project of the parish.

The “Episcopal Church Women” of the parish organized a “cookie walk” in December 1989 and that tradition also continues to the present, with member families contributing an array of decorated cookies for sale.

Another guild, Saint Anne’s Guild, was the sponsor and financier of music and choir activities at Saint Mark’s, including acquiring and maintaining choir robes.  Saint Anne’s Guild also was active in planning and sponsoring activities for Saint Mark’s centennial in 1955 (see Saint Mark’s Centennial Celebration).

The Altar Guild (Sacristans) of Saint Mark’s has a long history of service dating back to the 1800’s.  In 1965 the Sacristans had 14 members and met four times a year.  The rector appointed one member per year, each serving a four-year term, with special roles for “retired” members.  The group also was known locally for holding bridge luncheons in member’s homes.  The Altar Guild exists to this day with a number of persons attending to altar responsibilities.

In more recent years Saint Mark’s, like other Episcopal congregations, adopted elected officers (Wardens) and an executive board (The Vestry) to handle administrative responsibilities of the parish, allowing the guilds and other groups to lead specific ministries.

The Young People of Saint Mark’s

Church records show active youth at Saint Mark’s throughout the years.  During the twentieth century youth groups were credited with assisting in many church activities, including fundraisers for special church projects and the purchase of the new organ in 1946.  A young peoples group assisted with decorations for the 1955 centennial celebration and the annual Christmas pageant. Sunday School classes have been held throughout the history of the congregation.

Saint Mark’s 80^th and 90^th Anniversaries

Church records mention an observance of the 80^th anniversary of the parish in 1936.  The Rev. Fr. Scully informed the Saint Agnes Guild that he was preparing booklets with the history of the congregation and letters from former clergy to be used at the ceremonies.  The Guild helped plan the publication and hoped to include a history of the Guild as well.  The booklet does not exist in parish records, but perhaps a reader aware of such a publication can shed some light on this piece of parish history.

The 90^th Anniversary of Saint Mark’s (1945) was a time of preparing for major improvements to the interior of the church that occurred in 1946 and 1947.  One project was establishment of an organ fund to raise funds for the new organ (see Music and Organs at Saint Mark’s).  “Happy Birthday” pledge cards were distributed for the 90^th anniversary organ project with a suggested price of $5 for each organ key. 

The Saint Mark’s Endowment/ Centennial Funds

The congregation accrued assets as memorials in the 1950’s that were placed in the Endowment Fund in the form of cash deposits and securities.  In 1954 additional assets were raised on behalf of the newly created Centennial Fund by using the “wooden church” project to generate funds.  Small wooden churches with a coin slot were distributed to members for saving change to fund the coming centennial.  At the time the congregation had monthly pot luck dinners on Sunday evenings where the little churches were brought and the offering total announced.  Over $750 was raised from this project to fund the centennial and future improvements and repairs.  After the centennial the little churches continued to be used for several years and the contents offered each year at the Sunday closest to Saint Mark’s Day.

Saint Agnes Guild raised $420 from their Centennial Cookbook sales to add to the Fund, and additional cash gifts were received.  During the 1950’s the Centennial Fund and Endowment Funds were merged, creating a considerable resource for future needs of the congregation.  In 1968 the estate of Williamina Lawrie was distributed to Saint Mark’s Endowment Fund.  Her home was sold to another parishioner, Arthur and Jane Gerg, with the proceeds going to the Fund.  In the 1970’s the Vestry merged what were separate trust and endowment funds.

Saint Mark’s Centennial - 1955

The planning for the 1955 Centennial Celebration began several years earlier as described above with the establishment of the Centennial Fund. 

The activities in 1955 began with a May 15^th Pot Luck Dinner sponsored by Saint Anne’s Guild.  The members invited parishioners and special invitations went to all persons married at Saint Mark’s through the years.  During the ceremony those persons were honored.

The major centennial event was the worship service, dinner and program held at the church on November 6, 1955.  Honored guests at the Eucharist were Bishop Hallock and Father Berger (a photo of this service taken by Oestreich Studio exists and is on display in the Fireside Room).  Afterwards, a “Great Pot Luck Luncheon” was held at the church hall (two other Oestreich photos exist showing the Bishop, Fr. Tarrant and Berger in the Guild Hall, with one of the small wooden churches used to raise centennial funds, a small cross and a 1955 centennial logo seen in the background).

Twenty Years of Ministry - Father S.S. Tarrant

The Rev. Stanley S. Tarrant served Saint Mark’s from 1942 to 1962 as rector of Saint Paul’s, Columbus, and Saint Mark’s, Beaver Dam.  His residence was at the rectory in Columbus.  Father Tarrant did not drive an automobile, yet he was extremely active at both parishes and in Diocesan activities.  Not only did he keep the Sunday schedule at both locations, but he regularly attended meetings and events of the guilds and sacristans, called on parishioners and newcomers and frequented social events.  It was common for Fr. Tarrant to go with delegates from both parishes to Diocesan meetings, or to travel with faithful guild members to deliver canned goods, clothing or linens to Saint John’s Home in Milwaukee.

The Present and Future of Saint Mark’s Congregation

More than forty priests and deacons have served the congregation through the years. The present rector, Rev. Mary J. Mail, came to Saint Mark’s in 1999 and leads the congregation with a strong example of faith, and a positive, enthusiastic, and often humorous, style.  The congregation’s appreciation of the past and their enthusiasm for the present and future are reflected in Rev. Mail’s summary, “This is a very special place, with very special people who proclaim Christ’s love in their ministries.”

After 150 years of witness Saint Mark’s has moved into the 21^st century with the tools and the desire to serve Christ as a faithful worshipping community, strengthened by the sacramental life and empowered by the Holy Spirit (the Saint Mark’s mission statement).  We stand firm in the belief that the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.

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