One of the most beautiful structures in Bay City Texas, is St. Mark's Episcopal Church on the southwest corner of Avenue E and Sixth Street.

The solid red brick building with its twin towers, glowing windows, and placid cloistered courtyard suggests a small church in the English countryside which might have stood for centuries.

St. Mark's, however, is not an ancient church. Its organization as a mission occurred in May 1895, only a few months after Bay City itself was established as a town and the seat of Matagorda county.

Previously, the county seat had been on the southern edge of the county at the old Gulf Coast town of Matagorda. Matagorda suffered a severe loss with removal of the county seat to Bay City-- not only loss of the county seat and many citizens, but also loss of a large part of the congregation of the oldest Episcopal church in Texas-- Christ Church, Matagorda.

It was these members of the Mother Church who moved to Bay City in 1894 and 1895, along with those already living on northern Bay Prairie and at Caney who gathered for the first Episcopal worship services in Bay City.

Matagorda County citizens had decided that a large and imposing stone courthouse should grace their new Court Square in Bay City and proceeded with plans for its erection. Meantime, a two-room frame building which had served as a grand jury room was hauled from the town of Matagorda and set up in the Square, the first temporary courthouse.

The need for more office space for county officials was met when Judge T.J. Hamilton constructed a two-story frame business building across from the square. This building served as a courthouse and center for all community gatherings and entertainment until the new courthouse was completed. Bay City's first Sunday School and Church services, including St. Mark's were held there. Alma Austin Doubek, daughter of George Austin, recalled in later years their stark simplicity and crude furnishings. Seats, she said, were made from planks laid upon beer kegs. The Austin and Hamilton families were among the first to move from Matagorda to Bay City and help establish St. Mark's Mission.

The Reverend John U. Graf, rector of Christ Church, Matagorda, came as Priest-in-Charge to shepherd the little group of Episcopalians in Bay City. He directed the organization of the mission church in 1895 with John Francis Holt, a Matagorda County rancher as Senior Warden, and William E. Austin and John W. Gaines, members of the Vestry.

John Pierce Gaines, infant son of John and Lorene Gaines was probably the first Episcopalian to be baptized in Bay City. The Rev. Graf performed the ceremony at the courthouse April 14, 1895.

After a brief but eventful year, the Rev. Graf was succeeded by the Rev. John H. Birckhead as Priest-in-Charge, and in 1896, St. Mark's Mission was formally affiliated with the Diocese of Texas.

The Rev. Birckhead served both Christ Church and St. Mark's for four years. One of his last official acts before he resigned in 1900 was to register the burial in the Bay City Cemetery of Judge T.J. Hamilton, September 5, 1900.

In December 1900, the Rev, John L. Sloan arrived in Bay City to take charge of St. Mark's. Having served as rector of Christ Church, Matagorda, 1890-1892, he was already well known to Bay Citians and remembered with affection as "Father John"

It was the Town Company's policy to donate building lots to all early organized church congregations. The present site of St. Mark's (Lots seven and eight, Block 62) was deeded to Bishop G. H. Kinsolving and his successors by David Swickheimer of the Town Company.

Under Father John's leadership, construction of St. Mark's first rectory and church buildings began. The frame rectory which faced on Avenue E was later moved. A long frame church building, erected at the same time, faced on Sixth Street. On Easter Day 1901, the first services were held in this building, a joyous occasion, fruit of much toil and sacrifice. Five years later on St. Mark's Day, April 25, 1906, Bishop Kinsolving consecrated the Church.

However, a vicious hurricane on July 21, 1909, destroyed all of the church buildings in Bay City including that of St. Mark's along with its mission records. Less than a year after the storm and before its effects had disappeared, the undaunted, little congregation began to rebuild. Materials salvaged from the wreck of the old building were used to erect a parish house to serve also as a temporary place of worship.

To make room for the new and larger brick church building, the parish house was moved back some feet farther south on Avenue E. Four classrooms and a study were eventually added to the parish house. The parish house continued for many years as a center for both church and community-related activities until major expansion of the main church building in 1954-55 included a new parish hall.

Bishop Kinsolving placed the cornerstone of the present building November 23, 1910; the building was completed early in 1911 and consecrated the same year. This was the time when most of the lovely stained glass windows which adorn St. Mark's church were installed. The windows memorialize lives of men and women who were importantly linked with the development of Bay City and Matagorda County; names of some of their descendants are to be found on St. Mark's roll today.

Father John labored and led, ministering to his people and teaching pupils in private schools. His Episcopal school was the only one in Bay City that prepared students to meet college entrance requirements. Father John prepared his students well and instilled them with high ideals. Many were inspired to become dedicated community leaders.

In 1913, St. Mark's became self-supporting and was admitted into the Diocese of Texas as a Church. St. Mark's and other church congregations held the usual fund-raising fairs, entertainment's, suppers, and special events to help equip and furnish their young churches. The youth of St. Mark's undertook a number of projects and once addressed Bay City's enduring problem with mud. Frequent rains turned the town's broad unpaved streets into muddy rivers. Sidewalks were desperately needed... one of the first resulted from the efforts of St. Mark's young women. They raised money for a sidewalk to be laid from the corner of the square to the corner of the church. Father John, stepping on the slabs, would call the names, "Net-Let-Annie-Alma ..." thus recognizing those young women who had initiated the project.

It was probably about 1918 that Mrs. Kate Rugeley and her son Walcott, St. Mark's first acolyte, attended a worship service at Christ Church, Houston. There they saw a vested choir following a like-vested acolyte carrying a processional cross. They were impressed with the dignity and simplicity of the identical vestments and wished to add this beauty to St. Mark's worship services.

So the ladies of the parish started making vestments, and Mr. J. W. Rugeley, inspired by the enthusiasm of his young son, made a wooden processional cross, carving the letters IHS from the lid of a cigar box. This processional cross was continued in use at the church school services after acquisition of a brass memorial processional cross, and is still in use today, being the cross carried for all Graveside services.

Similar was the fashioning of St. Mark's gold and silver communion chalice. It was completed and dedicated in honor of Mrs. Sargent's 80th birthday. All joined in giving of their own treasure-- spoons, rings, pins, and bracelets--as a lasting tribute of love to the church and all those who labored with the honoree.

After serving St. Mark's parish as rector and the community as teacher for 17 years, Father John resigned in 1918 to accept a call to St. Mary's, Houston. He served a number of churches in the Diocese of Texas and finally became Archdeacon of the Diocese. He died in Houston, August 21, 1930.

For a number of years thereafter, St. Marks was closely linked to the Mother church. Records of the two churches are commingled, and priests were shared by both congregations.

Since its organization, St. Mark's has been a vital part of religious and civic life in Matagorda County and beyond, joining others in efforts to show God's love for the world. One of the first acts of the Rev. Pettit, who followed Father John as rector of St. Marks, was to accompany Bishop Clinton S. Quin to the town of Gulf. Their visit resulted in assignment of a clergyman at Gulf. Previously, Father John had led a missionary outreach to the community of Collegeport resulting in St. Paul's Mission and thereafter St. John's Mission in Palacios.

During the Rev. Pettit's rectorship, two events occurred which were to have a profound influence on the future life of St. Mark's. First, a small reed organ, worn from many years of use, was replaced with a Pilcher pipe organ--the first to be installed in Bay City--thus bringing to the church and the community glorious performances of sacred and classical music not experienced before.

Second, a fine (for then) brick home located on the corner of Avenue E and Fifth Street, was purchased for use as a rectory. In 1958, this building was turned over to the women of St. Mark's to be operated as St. Mark's Thrift House with Mrs. D. M. Curtis as founder. For nearly 37 years the Thrift House served as an extended arm of St. Mark's, selling used clothing and household goods at modest prices, supplying the needy at no cost, and supporting the church with generous cash donations for response to appeals for help both near and far.

The physical appearance of St. Mark's has been altered as necessary since 1911. Along with the new brick parish hall added to the church structure, 1954-55, the church interior was refurbished. A wood beam type ceiling was suspended under the original ornamental pressed tin ceiling which had rusted badly. A new parquet type oak floor was applied over the old pine floor. The interior was refinished, and the lovely leaded glass windows were all reworked.

The Rev. Milton McWilliams, Jr. came to St. Mark's from St. Francis Church, Houston, in November 1962. shortly thereafter he was appointed Dean of the Southwest Convocation, Diocese of Texas, which is composed of 13 churches.

In 1964 property west of the church was acquired for a parking area. Then a bequest by Pauline and Gus Brown in 1965 inspired and enabled major alterations and additions in 1975.

The old entrance to the church on Avenue E was closed in to form a chapel; the front of the church was extended toward the street, and a new entrance opened upon a covered cloister leading to the parish hall. A tower matching that of the church arose over the parish hall. At the same time, parishioners raised a face-lifting fund for renovating the interior of the parish hall and for landscaping the grounds. A parish library was organized and opened.

The Stewart Savage Memorial courtyard was also created, its serene beauty providing a place to pause for quiet contemplation. Stewart Savage was the grandfather and great-grandfather of present St. Markans, and the grandson of Norman Savage, said to have owned one of the first herds of cattle on the Matagorda area plains.

Property on Fifth Street west of St. Mark's Thrift House was acquired in 1976. A massive wooden cross rising above a grass covered Bern overlooks the park-like area where outdoor church services and activities are held and neighboring families picnic and play.

Finally, a carillon was given by a member of the congregation as a memorial for David McWilliams, son of the Rev. and Mrs. McWilliams, who died November 2, 1978, and had spent much of his young life in loving church service at St. Mark's.

St. Mark's celebrated its 90th Anniversary on May 24, 1986, with the dedication of a Historical Marker granted by the Texas Historical Commission. The marker reads: "This congregation traces its roots to Christ Church Matagorda, from which parish many of its early members had come following the relocation of the Matagorda County Seat to Bay City in 1894. Formally organized in 1895 under the leadership of the Rev. John U. Graf, St. Mark's held early worship services in the two-story frame building that also served as a temporary courthouse. The first church building was completed in 1901 during the ministry of the Rev. John L. Sloan. Over the years, the congregation has placed an emphasis on community service and outreach."

Prior to retiring on September 7, 1986, the Rev. and Mrs. McWilliams devoted 24 years of their lives in service to God as shepherds of St. Mark's. Their lives and works have made God's love known to many throughout the community and the diocese of Texas.

In June of 1987, the Rev. Hugh B. Jones, Jr., previously Assistant Rector at St. Mark's, Houston, was installed as the new Rector of yet another St. Mark's... Bay City. Hugh (as he was called) was a catalyst in a journey of new growth for St. Mark's. first, the interior of the offices were refurbished and later, in 1992, a second renovation took place which spruced up the interior of the parish hall, nursery, bathrooms, classrooms, and the Lurlene Wadsworth Room.

The church membership increased at an overwhelming rate and with it an abundant offering of time, talent, and treasure. St. Markans reached out generously to its own community and well beyond. There was a surge of lay ministers and lay leaders. Under Hugh's guidance, several projects were launched and still continue today--local and community Food Pantry, EFM (Education for Ministry), Fall Festival (various denominational churches working together to raise funds for local charities), Honduras Medical Mission and Annual Fajita Fiesta.

For nearly seven years, Hugh served with incredible vigor and enthusiasm. As Hugh departed for St. Alban's in Hixson, Tennessee, he left behind a congregation empowered "to seek out and do the will of Christ and to make Him known to all peoples."

The people of St. Mark's had a great desire to continue their spiritual growth and began the search for a spiritual leader. In September of 1994, Rev. Nicky Don Novak accepted the call to St. Mark's. Within a month, he led the congregation in its first Parish Retreat at Camp Allen, During the following year-and-a-half, Father Nick diligently established prayer teams, increased and re-emphasized Bible Studies, rekindled EYC (Episcopal Youth Community), united the men of St. Mark's through Promisekeepers, coordinated a Faith Alive! weekend, assisted small group meetings in parishioners' homes, and initiated Stephen's Ministry. After serving the congregation at Saint Mark's for seven wonderful years, Father Nick left Saint Mark's in the spring of 2001 to lead the congregation of the Trinity Episcopal Church in Baytown, Texas.

Reverend Bruce Bonner answered the call for ministry at Saint Mark's at the start of 2002.  On February 10, 2002 Father Bonner held his first service at Saint Mark's. On April 21, 2002, Father Bonner was officially installed as rector of Saint Mark's in a service presided over by Bishop Alard.

Bruce enjoyed going to the annual medical mission trip to Honduras going his first and second year at St. Mark’s.  He holds a special place in his heart for the people of Corinto who are in such extreme need.  Being able to forge great relationships with all those who travel to Corinto each year has been an incredible blessing.  At the end of each days work Bruce wanted to top of the day by asking each person on the team what their closest moment to Christ was during that day.  He gives thanks to Taffy Atkinson for her continued support and dedication to the mission. 

 Bruce was CEO of MEHOP, the first three years of his tenure at St. Mark’s.  He grew in many ways while serving in this capacity.  He gives praise to Brenda Harris for her incredible leadership that keeps MEHOP serving the medical needs of those in Matagorda County.  This ministry has developed into a powerful outreach program. 

 Bruce formed the Men’s Friday morning prayer and bible study group.  Each Friday morning several men attend and grow in the fellowship of our Lord and are known as the X-Men.  The group came to know each other on much deeper levels while growing closer to Christ each week.

 Seeing the need for people to have time to get to know each other, and have time to spend together, Fellowship Café was formed shortly after the first year.  Fellowship Café was is the Parrish Hall each Sunday right after the Sunday school period.  Volunteers bring a breakfast for everyone to enjoy consisting of fruits, bagels, pigs in a blanket, donuts, coffee and juice.  Popcorn was also popped in the popcorn machine donated by Brent Marceaux.

 In Father Bruce’s second year he brought a Faith Alive team to us.

 Each Wednesday before the noon day service Bruce held the Rector’s Lectionary Class at 11:00 am, teaching on all of the readings, introducing the history as well as looking at how this applies to our own everyday lives.

 Bruce’s wife Kathryn also taught adult Sunday school for three years, teaching on the Book of Mark, the study of the 12 apostles, the study of Galatians, and the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.  Kathryn also gathered the woman of the church the last two years to go to the “Woman of Faith Conferences.”  The first year it was held in San Antonio, and the second year was in Houston.  The women grew closer to each other and to the Lord. 

 Father Bruce also taught Adult Sunday School teaching on many different subjects as well as teaching on the lectionary. 

 He introduced some new technology such as the phone tree, the new sound system, the new TV and the most recent are the visual aids in the Sunday worship services. 

 In his support of the Diocese Father Bruce served on the World Mission Board, St. James House, and the Standing Committee. 

 Father Bruce wants it to be known that he grew closer to Christ through his time while serving the church family of St. Mark's.  Even though he lost most of his hair, he never lost his sense of humor!

Father Bruce accepted a call to Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Park, Texas, beginning August 21, 2005.

Father Bruces' last day at Saint Mark's is July 31, 2005.

Truly the Holy Spirit is ever present! Formed by the many devoted and caring individuals who nurtured its life during the past 100 years, the rich heritage of St. Mark's lives on!