A Brief History of Saint
Mark
| On a very
hot Sunday afternoon, September 24, 1961, ninety Presbyterians gathered
in Ashburton Elementary School for services to organize Saint Mark
Presbyterian Church. A congregation devoted to worship and mission,
prayer and study, and joyful fellowship had come together.
Organizational efforts began in 1960, when Rev. James G. Macdonell was called by Washington City Presbytery to start a new church in the Washington suburbs. He and several Princeton Seminary interns and elders from nearby Presbyterian churches rang doorbells in north Bethesda to find people interested in a new congregation. The first worship service took place in September 1960, in Walter Johnson High School's cafeteria. Now, 40 years later, multi-million dollar malls flourish in this neighborhood where in the 1960's cattle grazed. Housing developments, professional offices, and Interstate highways changed the quiet suburbs. Tumultuous events of the last half of the 20th century-sociological shifts, political crises, wars-affected everyone. Saint Mark's people joined in the changes and found opportunities for mission. From Saint Mark's first days, the pastor and members were determined to act on their beliefs in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in outreach ministries. Local and international mission, a prominent focus in the life of the church, extends in many directions, evolving in some cases from members' life experiences. Pastor and members in Saint Mark's early days decided always to emphasize mission over buildings, but buildings were needed. The first structures were dedicated on September 12, 1965. After several years of planning for a new education building, construction commenced in August 1999. Saint Mark has sought the best use of our property, a site special in this time and in the past. A tumbledown building still stood on our land in 1960, said to be a "station" on the Underground Railroad, the network that helped slaves escape to the North. Old Georgetown Road is an ancient trail, and our high ground site was a lookout point and sanctuary for travelers. The land and the trees are a sanctuary today, a place to find faith and strength to continue the tasks God would have us do.
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