Table of Contents Use these links to jump to information. - A Brief History - Altar, Windows and Other Memorials - Organ Stop List - Parish House - The Rectory

A Brief History

The first Episcopal services in Augusta were held in 1763 at Fort Western, and were preached by the Rev. Jacob Bailey, a missionary from Pownalborough. However the Rev. Bailey remained loyal to England when the Revolutionary War broke out and was forced to flee to Canada. Sporadic services were held in Augusta until 1840 when a parish was set up under the General Laws of the State of Maine, pledged to conform to the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Rev. Frederick Freeman was called to become rector at the salary of $1,000 per year. A wooden church was constructed in 1841, and enlarged in 1858. Funds for the construction and enlargement were raised by the sale of pews.

The congregation of St. Marks' had grown enough for the parish to decide in 1884 to build a new and larger church, "provided that $25,000 should be raised within a year". The amount was raised, a site on Pleasant Street was selected, and Richard J. Upjohn of New York, brother of the then rector, was hired as architect. The description of the proposed church was as follows: " The church will consist of a nave, aisles, and choir; the aisles being formed by an arcade of six polished granite pillars supporting a clerestory, also of granite. The choir will be thirty feet deep and will have two projections or transepts ... The tower will form the chief entrance and will rise to a height of 92 feet from floor to top of spire, and will afford abundant room for a chime of bells .... The whole church will be of grey granite from Norridgewock ... The church will stand .... on the brow of the hill, surrounded with beautiful old elms."

Altar, Windows and Other Memorials

The altar was given as memorial to Mrs. Allen Lambard, the first communicant of this parish, by her children. It is made chiefly of cream colored sandstone from Caen, France. The reredos panels feature relief figures of angels in adoration, sacred monograms wreathed in carved foliage, and representations of wheat, grape vines, lilies and the passion flower. The St. Marks' Window, located over the altar of the original church, was moved to the south side of the choir. This window features a life size figure of St. Mark in a meditating posture, holding an open book and pen. At his feet is a lion. On the side lancets are scripture symbols---the cross, helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, anchor of hope, sword of the spirit, belt of truth, and sandals of the gospel. This window was given in memory of General Seth Williams, a graduate of West Point who served in the Mexican War, then became Adjutant General of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. When he died in 1866 at the age of 44, General Grant sent personal condolences to the family.

The Ascension Window in the west gable of the church was given in memory of Hannah Bridge Williams by her daughter in 1906. Mrs. Williams was known for many graceful acts of charity, including the custom of visiting the jail on Thanksgiving Day and personally giving to each of the prisoners a homemade mince pie. The window, designed at the Tiffany studios in New York, shows a city bathed in the soft light of a waning day, while above is the figure of the Savior, surrounded by angels in praise and adoration.

Three oak and cathedral glass screens which divide the church from the chapel were given in memory of the Hon. Melville Weston Fuller, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, 1888-1910. The Hon. Fuller was born in Augusta and lived during his childhood in the house which is now the Rectory. He was knowledgeable in the history and customs of the Episcopal Church, and served for many years as a lay deputy of the General Convention. The chime of bells in the tower was given in memory of Ellen Kling in 1925. A carillon of eleven bells cast by the Meneely & Co. weighing over 12,000 pounds, was installed in the bell tower, together with the service bell from the original church. These bells have recently been restored with a generous gift in memory of the Dearborn family.

The organ is a modern (1973) mechanical key action (tracker) instrument built as opus 73 of the Andover Organ Company. It is located in the left chancel with the console reversed and detached. The Organ has two manuals with 21 speaking stops in 29 ranks. Each manual can be coupled to the pedals, and there is a unison intermanual coupler and tremolo. The manual compass is 56 notes (CC-g3) with 32 note concave-radiating pedal board. The stop action and combination are electric with tilting tablet stops in one row in the order shown in the stop list. The combination action includes four presets for each manual and pedal, four generals, a great to pedal reversable, and a Sforzando. The pedal presets are toe pistons, and the generals, reversable, and Sforzando are duplicated on toe pistons.

Organ Stop List

Parish House

A Parish House had been constructed in 1908, but became inadequate to meet the needs of the parish and its Sunday School. In 1959 the cornerstone of a new Parish House was laid, and construction was completed later that year. The reception room was named the Farnum Room in recognition of Col. and Mrs. Francis H. Farnum who contributed greatly to this building.

A major renovation of the basement floor of the Parish House was undertaken in the Fall and early Winter of 2000. It provides an attractive, well lit and ventilated spaces for our Sunday School, group meetings, and the Clothing Bank.

The Rectory

The federal style house at 11 Summer Street has been used as a Rectory for St. Marks' Church since 1873. Originally built about 1820 by Judge Henry Weld Fuller, the house changed ownership several times before being deeded to St. Mark's with the proviso that "the premises shall be used for church, parsonage and school purposes by a parish or church in union and fellowship with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Maine and no other." In 1885 the house was moved to make room for the new granite church. Features include windows with six over six small panes, indoor wooden shutters, fireplaces, and a fan over the front door. Both the rectory and the granite church structure are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.