A place of warmth welcome and service

Established in 1891, St. Mark’s is a historic church, located in southwest Birmingham AL. Our church is a place of warmth, welcome and service. Join us for worship 10 am this Sunday.

Who We Are

The idea of an organized Black Episcopal congregation had its inception at the Fifty-first Annual Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese. This meeting was held in Alabama in 1882.
In 1890  the idea of a Black Episcopal Church School was presented to Bishop Wilmer by Mr. C.V. Auguste  along with respected members of the Black community. It was felt that a school would be beneficial to the Black community. St. Mark’s School commenced in 1892  with seven grades and 47 students. The school was located in Birmingham, Alabama at Eighteenth  Street  North and Avenue C. St. Mark’s School presented one of few viable educational opportunities for people of color. During its existence the school had its  share of woes experiencing financial uncertainty and a fire in 1905. Yet, the school would always rise above the misfortune. For many years St. Mark’s School was one of the main avenues for an academic education of Blacks in the state and perhaps the south. n 1939, Father J.Clyde Perry was called to Birmingham as Vicar of St. Mark’s Church and as Chaplain of St. Mark’s School.   Upon his arrival Fr. Perry found the school in financial straits. The previous three years for the school had been ruinous with many of its previous students now attending the newly built public high school for Colored, Parker High. St. Mark’s School was finally forced to close at the June  1940  Commencement.

During his tenure Fr. Perry was revered as a sincere and devoted spiritual leader. He tended his flock by street car as he had no car or by walking long distances to visit parish members. Under his leadership, the present church building was erected  in 1962 at 228 Dennison Avenue S.W.  The parish registry listed the names of 56 members, yet when the church was consecrated there was no indebtedness.  Father Perry celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination on St. Mark’s Day, April 27, 1967 which took place in the parish building he had been instrumental in building.  Rev. J. Clyde Perry retired in 1964.

On July 2, 1978 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church welcomed Rev. Edward J. Wilson to its parish as spiritual leader and advisor. Under his professional guidance and dynamic leadership along with deeply religious convictions, St. Mark’s strengthened itself spiritually and materially to become a valuable force in the community as well as the Diocese of Alabama. During his tenure he encouraged parishioners to become involved in Cursillo and Kairos Prison Ministry. He felt strongly that members have a presence and become involved in Diocesan events. He established chapters of The Brotherhood of St. Andrews and Daughters of the King at St. Mark’s. A strong proponent of education he established Project FREE Outreach Ministry and Tutorial programs. Founder and President of the International Children’s Community, he dreamed of world peace by bringing together children of diverse cultures and faith traditions. Affectionately known as Fr. Wilson, he remained the rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church until his retirement in 2003.

Since this time St. Mark’s has been ministered to by a host of guest priests, one full time priest, C. Diane Hill and presently Priest-in-charge, Sara-Scott Wingo and  Rev.Deacon Carolyn Foster.

St. Mark’s continues to serve its members and the community through spiritually based programs and  Biblical worship.  All are welcomed to the church at the “foot of the hill.”