St. Mark’s Church in Ortega THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the story of St. Mark’s embracing change and preparing to embrace the next century. This book offers something for everyone. Perhaps, you simply want to browse all seventy-two carefully curated pages to enjoy and explore archival memoirs and historical snapshots. Everyone will marvel at stunning, artistic images vividly captured in St. Mark’s
St. Mark’s Church in Ortega
an expansive and beautiful campus. It’s also
St. Mark’s Church in Ortega THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS
the Wicks organ depicting creation. Given in 1991 by James and Patricia Bent to the glory of God, and in thanksgiving for their children: Patricia, James, and Paul. Back Cover: The Great Commission Rose Window over the balcony, given by Mrs. Earl Williamson in 1952 to the glory of God and in loving mem-ory of her husband. It’s a most appropriate parting image for parishioners to see as they process out into the world.
neighborhood and its generations of members. While the spiritual roots of the church go back
pedaled his bicycle across the St. John’s River to embrace a new assignment. Douglas Bagwell Leatherbury climbed the steps of a small wooden building known in the neighborhood as “The Little Brown Church.”
THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS 1922–2022
Front Cover: The Benedicite Rose Window over
copal Church has served Jacksonville’s Ortega
vember 1919, when a lanky, young clergyman
may fully immerse themselves in a century old hope you will enjoy this book.
or the last century, St. Mark’s Epis-
to the nineteenth century, it wasn’t until No-
extraordinary stained-glass windows, and others historical journey. Whatever your preference, we
F
It was a humble beginning in a simple building. Some years later, one parishioner remembered the experience fondly, saying, “It was the most modest building you could possibly imagine. You’d open the door into this sweet, small church . . . Simplicity was definitely what the little church represented.” It wasn’t until May 15, 1922, that the growing congregation’s thirty-two members received the joyous news that their “Mission of St. Columba” had been granted parish status. In an unusual step, the members decided to rename the church as St. Mark’s Church and Leatherbury was called to be its rector. This beautiful commemorative book—St. Mark’s Church in Ortega, The First One Hundred Years, 1922–2022—celebrates the beginning and growth of the church, a century of faithful parishioners, and its history of numerous missions and growing ministries. This is the story of how St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has evolved and how it has grown into
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 4129 OXFORD AVENUE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32210
St. Mark's_Dust Jacket.indd 1
1922–2022
a multi-generational neighborhood church on
continued on rear flap
2/7/22 3:59 PM