A SHORT HISTORY OF
ST. MARK’S CHURCH: 1890-1978
Probably written by Bea Smith (1911-2006)
PARISH HISTORIAN
When Bishop William Lawrence made his annual address to the Diocesan Convention in the spring of 1905, he had this to say about our parish: “The people of the little church of Foxborough have at last and with commendable effort paid the debt and the church stands ready for consecration.” 1905 was a milestone in the history of this small but active parish, and it was on May 31, 1905, at 10:15 a.m. that the fulfillment of a dream of a small group of Episcopalians in Foxborough became a reality, as Bishop Lawrence consecrated the church building. The phrases “little church”, “commendable effort”, and “paid the debt” are in many respects phrases which have characterized the life of St. Mark’s parish ever since; for this parish is, comparatively speaking, a small parish. Not only commendable effort, but often great sacrifice and foresight, have been shown by the members of this church. And the fact that the debt was paid in full a very few years after the church was built indicates the desire on the part of past generations, as well as the present one, to keep our heads financially above water.
Several years ago our former rector, the Rev. Louis W. Pitt, Jr., in an article published in the CHURCH MILITANT magazine posed this question: “You will ask how all this has come to pass. It is a story of determination and ingenuity and hard work, and with it all Yankee independence.” These are the qualities which led to the founding of a small mission here in Foxboro by a group of Episcopalians, which led to their desire to have a church building to worship in, and which has kept them together through succeeding years of hard work, fellowship, and sometimes uncertainty.
It was on April 13, 1890, according to Mrs. Charles P. Smith, former Parish Historian, “that an enthusiastic group of Episcopalians met together to determine if services could be held in Foxboro. The first meeting place was ‘Knight of Honor Hall’ at the corner of South and Market Streets across from where the building is located, and later at St. Mark’s Mission Hall on School Street.” The Rev. Charles Elizur Barnes was our first minister from 1891-93, and according to the DIOCESAN JOURNAL of that year he commuted to Foxboro from Dorchester. The earliest Diocesan record makes this comment: “St. Mark’s Mission is not a year old. The services are held in a hall. A good degree of earnestness exists on the part of the people to plant the church in this town, and a flourishing parish, within moderate limits, could soon be formed here if the mission possessed a church in which services could worthily be held. The present condition is but the beginning of things, without much opportunity for growth until, by outside aid, a church is erected.”
Our former church building (now the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer) is the result of this fervent hope. Apparently the planners and builders followed the advice that Bishop Lawrence gave the Diocese in 1895, when he said to the Convention, “One warning I want to give…which is that new missions be conservative in the erection of new buildings. Such missions should never build on any but an excellent lot, central for the people, and of real value in case of future sale. “Despite this last rather gloomy thought Bishop Lawrence went on to describe the new church in Foxboro, which had been built that year, as a “modest and tasteful church.”
The first meeting held in the newly completed edifice was actually on May 31, 1894, although on the previous November 29, 1893, the cornerstone was laid with appropriate services conducted by the Rev. George E. Osgood of North Attleboro, whose encouragement had meant so much to a small group of worshippers in their desire to establish a church in Foxboro. He was assisted in this service by the Rev. Horace Hall Buck, who might be called the first real rector of the parish. The cornerstone was cut from the quarry at High Rock and bears a Greek Cross. In it is placed a brief history of the parish presented by W. M. Clark, Church Warden, and other articles of timely association. The fieldstone from which the church was built, was taken from a farm in the southern part of the town. The construction of the church was done by a local contractor, whose grand-daughter, Emily Knight, was one of our members. The name “St. Mark’s” was chosen because the earliest service held here was on April 13, 1890, close to the date of the festival of St. Mark, the Apostle.
In 1895, the year the church was completed, there were 18 families in the parish and 41 communicants; there were 3 teachers in the Church School and 17 pupils; and the debt which was to be paid off during the last ten years amounted to $1,284.85. By the time the church was consecrated in 1905, there was a total of 68 baptized persons, 42 communicants, and the Church School had grown to 50 pupils with 6 teachers. The total value of the new property was placed at $4,000, a sizeable sum, and it is interesting to note that the expenses for operating the church, including the salary of the part-time minister, totaled $364.43. The JOURNAL of 1905 lists the Rev. Albert Eugene George as minister-in-charge and his residence was in Walpole. Linus E. Carpenter was the Warden, John W. Haworth, in whose memory the window over the east transept was later given, was the Clerk, and Mrs. Lillie Bassett was the Treasurer. These people were among the 68 baptized people who on May 31, 1905, could take pride in their achievement as the Bishop of the Diocese consecrated their lovely church building.
Growth had taken place in the community, in the parish itself, but more significantly in the insight and understanding on the part of St. Mark’s members. The future lay ahead of them; they were justly proud of the present. What would happen in future years, they knew, would depend on their faithfulness and on the presence in their midst of the Lord to lead them on.
According to Mrs. Smith’s invaluable history of the parish to which we are greatly indebted, from 1909 to 1921 the church was united with Walpole and shared the services of the rector of Epiphany church of that town. From 1922-1935 the services of the rector of St. John’s church in Mansfield were shared by Foxboro. The Rev. James Arthur Thompson was minister from 1910-18. The Rev. Percy Barnes from 1918-21. And from 1922-35 one of the truly great ministries was felt in this parish as the Rev. Willard Holt Roots came from Mansfield to be our minister. There are many who remember with gratitude and affection the life of Mr. Roots, a man who was loved throughout the community, whose interest and concern for St. Mark’s were real, and who gave himself unsparingly in the service of our Lord.
One interesting item in the DIOCESAN REPORT of 1915, speaking of Foxboro, is this: “The canvas by Miss Elizabeth Henke (now Mrs. Fred Rogers) last summer discovered some nominal church people who have come into the country about the village and whom we are attempting to interest in this church. The industrial condition of the town is in a most pathetic state. Only one form of industry prevails, (straw hat), and that has been very poor indeed. The proprietors are looking forwards to some slight gains in this direction. Owing to these conditions no less than 46 individuals calling themselves ‘church folk’ have left town since the last canvass 4 years ago.” In spite of this, in 1915 there were 112 baptized persons in the parish, and the budget for operating expenses had been raised so that the parish now paid its minister $350 a year and was able to spend $37.42 on the Sunday School. In 1930, 25 years after the church had been consecrated, there were 129 baptized, 51 of them communicants, the largest number up to that time. And the receipts for the year amounted to $1,473.96. The year was closed with a balance of over $100.
In 1940, a Rector’s room was added to fill a much needed want of the Church School. Mrs. Smith reports that “at this time the grounds were landscaped by the Rector with the help of the men and boys of the parish.”
Following Mr. Root’s ministry, The Rev. Hugh Wallace Smith served here from 1938-42, the Rev. George Wm. Robert McCray in 1943, and the Rev. Forrest L. Nicol from the latter part of 1943 through 1944. It was in 1946 that the Rev. Gibson Winter came, and his ministry here until 1949 marked the beginning of the rapid growth of the parish. On June 1, 1946, the Trading Post Committee was formed, and in February, 1947, the parish was admitted into union with the Diocese, an important step in the growth of any parish in the Episcopal Church. On August 1, 1949, the Rev. Louis W. Pitt, Jr., came to be the first full-time Rector of St. Mark’s Church, and the outstanding, devoted ministry of Mr. Pitt until the early winter of 1954 was a ministry of Christian unselfish love for both parish and people. To a growing community and parish Mr. Pitt brought wisdom and understanding, and his departure from St. Mark’s found the church on strong and steady feet.
In May, 1955 there were over 600 baptized people in the parish; a considerable increase from the 68 who were members here 50 years earlier. There were almost 250 communicants as compared with the 42 in 1905; and our Church School alone had almost 200 children.
And yet the old days were not so bad nor was the beginning of the life of St. Mark’s one to be ashamed of. The parish grew because it was meant to grow. It flourished because God wanted it to be a witness for Him, and it has gone forward over the eighty-five years of its existence as a Christian fellowship of men, women and children. We celebrate with gratitude the consecration of this church in 1905.
Following is an account of the church’s consecration given in the CHURCHMAN of June 10, 1905. “St. Mark’s Church, Foxboro, Mass., was consecrated by Bishop Lawrence in the presence of a large congregation. The Bishop was assisted in the morning service by the Rev. Messrs. Walker, Winslow, Barnes and Hilliard. The Article of Donation was read by Mr. Linus Carpenter, Warden, and the Sentence of Consecration by the Rector, the Rev. A. E. George. The Bishop preached the sermon and was assisted in the Communion Service by Archdeacon Babcock and the Rector. Mr. George has been in charge at St. Mark’s as well as at the neighboring church at Walpole for some 3 years. Since that time the Walpole Church has been consecrated, and he has succeeded in paying the debt on St. Mark’s, so making its consecration possible. The Rev. Charles E. Barnes, who was present, was the first minister-in-charge of the mission and served for 3 years. The services were then held in a hall on School Street. In 1894 the church building was started. It is fieldstone and very favorably situated.”
Your attention is called to this last sentence. “The church is of fieldstone”; that is to say, it is strong as a good church should be, faithful and lasting. We have built upon a rock and that rock is Jesus Christ. “The church is favorably situated”; that is to say, the church is in the midst of a community here on the corner of South and Market Streets, opening its door to all who will enter, constantly seeking for new ways to bring the “good news” of the Saviour to the people of the community. May our fieldstone weather the years ahead, and may our favorable location be a challenge to our Christian outreach.
Bishop Lawrence, at this 1905 consecration service, did not forsee the tremendous growth of St. Mark’s (started by the Rev. Gibson Winter, and carried on under the Rev. Louis Pitt’s direction). The growth continued under the direction of the Rev. John Harper and the Rev. Frank Johnston. By the late 1950’s it became evident that the little fieldstone church on the corner of Market and South Streets could no longer accommodate the growing church school and congregation.
Mr. Pitt resigned in January 1954 as Rector of St. Mark’s, to accept a call to become Rector at All Saint’s Church in Brookline, Mass. He was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Harper, who took up his duties in July 1954. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Harper made many friends for St. Mark’s, and attracted many new parishioners. Mr. Harper resigned his Rectorship in July 1957, to become Rector of St. Matthews’s Church in Bedford Village, New York.
In September 1957, the Rev. Frank N. Johnston arrived to take up his duties as Rector of St. Mark’s. Mr. Johnston served as our Rector until September 1967; ten years of continual growth for St. Mark’s. In 1967 he resigned to become Rector of Christ Church in Manhassett, Long Island. It was during his Rectorship that the present church was planned and built. A planning committee was formed in October 1958 to study possible sites for the new church. In July 1959 a report of the planning committee was submitted, with the committee’s recommendation. In September 1959, a Special Parish meeting was held to take action on the committee’s recommendation. The Meeting voted to proceed with steps to obtain land on South Street adjoining the Carl Sullivan homesite, and thereon build a church.
The site selected was on land owned by Miss Florence A. Carpenter, a descendant of one of the town’s early citizens. Miss Carpenter quoted a price for the land, and then proceeded to donate the land to the Parish. She was one of the participants in the ground-breaking ceremony.
In 1963, a new Rectory was built on Prospect Street for the use of the Rector and his family.
At the time of Mr. Johnston’s departure, we were well settled into the new church. The little fieldstone church at Market and South Streets was sold to the Lutheran Church; it was established therein as the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.
Most of what has been said in this history so far has been about the physical growth of the parish, and its leadership. The history would not be complete if it did not point out the prime purpose of worship and Christian action by the church. Everything begins and is supported by our worship; it is the principal means of conveying the teachings of Christ to all people. Stemming from these teachings is the feeling of Christian community, and the spirit of this community is expressed in many activities.
One was the establishment in 1946 of The Trading Post where clothing and merchandise has been offered to people of Foxboro and surrounding communities at minimum prices. (It was reorganized in the Fall of 1977, and is now known as The New Trading Post. It performs the same services as did the former Trading Post.)
Another church-related community service is the Nursery and Kindergarten, which is operated each school year. Professionally qualified and well trained teachers serve the school; the goals of which are the development of the potential of each individual child. (In 1978 the school had an enrollment of 52 daily pupils).
In 1965 the subject of Civil Rights was uppermost in everyone’s thoughts. Out of this grew the nationally organized “March to Selma” in which our Rector, Mr. Johnston, participated..along with 4 lay parishioners: Bill Jobin, Joan Goodwin, Bob Estes and Elaine Lombardi.
By 1966 the need was felt for qualified direction of our Church School. Barbara Johnsen, a trained D.R.E. was appointed to the position which she held until her resignation in 1972. She still serves as consultant to the Church School, when needed, and is now Parish Secretary.
In 1968 St. Mark’s pioneered in Foxboro the introduction of the Metco Program for assisting urban children to find education in Foxboro schools.
Christian Service is the formal name of one of the most important aspects of life in this community - the support of one another in times of crisis. Food, child care, housekeeping, transportation, and other needed things are items which come easily into the St. Mark’s community of concern.
Another item of community concern is FISH, which was originally sponsored by St. Mark’s, and which is now town-wide. It is an effort of volunteers who gladly take one day a month, and who do whatever is asked of them by whoever calls the FISH exchange.
The period of 1966-1972 found our parish and the Foxboro Community distressed by the Vietnamese War. It was a period of stress and division on all sides everywhere; some people in support of our government’s policy, and others violently opposed. St. Mark’s felt the divisions, as did other churches and organizations, and it did not subside until the American troops were withdrawn from Southeast Asia.
In the Fall of 1968, the Rev. Walter Sobol took up the Rectorship of St. Mark’s and served until December 1972. During Mr. Sobol’s rectorship the vestry voted to participate in the Low Cost Housing Corporation of Boston. In 1971 the parish lent to the Corporation $16,000, for the rehabilitation of two apartments in Braddock Park in Boston. The parish funds came from a bequest to St. Mark’s from Mrs. Bertha Tracy, mother of Mr. Phelps Tracy, a parishioner. In 1972 the parish began a long range program of low cost housing in Foxboro, through the construction of a home in Neponset Heights, which was later sold to a family from Boston.
In 1969 the vestry voted to assist in the support of Phoebe Hospital in Liberia. The hospital is associated with Cuttington College in Suakoko, Liberia. Dr. Robert Bain, M.D. served as St. Mark’s Missionary-in-Residence for two years, while on leave from Phoebe Hospital. The hospital is supported jointly by the Lutheran Church, Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church.
In August 1973, the nave of the church was badly damaged by a fire, set by two young men attempting to create a diversion from a robbery they had committed in the center of town. The repairs took several months, and in the meantime, services were held in the Undercroft..with those in attendance seated in a “congregation in-the-round” arrangement around a temporary altar. This seating arrangement afforded a coziness which became quite attractive to those present.
The Rev. Russell C. Ayers arrived on September 1st, 1973, right after the fire, to begin his ministry with us, as Rector. He has now served almost five years. Because of his disposition and organizational ability, St. Mark’s looks forward to strong and imaginative leadership for the next several years.
St. Mark’s had begun an earlier counseling program, under Mr. Ayers’ leadership it has joined with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bethany Congregational Church, and the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, in fostering an inter-church counseling program to assist people who need help with personal problems.
St. Mark’s continues to participate in the “Norfolk Fellowship”, an inter-church organization which works with prisoners at the Walpole Prison, and the Norfolk Corrective Facility.
The Life Building Fund has been established to assist families who may be faced with a crisis; this fund is entrusted solely to the Rector’s discretion. The Fund has been used as collateral for families whose stability required consolidation of their debts; it has furnished rent in instances of desperate need; it has bought needed medications, sent children to camp, put food into homes where there was absolutely none, and has stood behind families with reduced income because of long-term illness.
In 1975 tragedy struck St. Mark’s. Our Verger, Joe Fenton, was struck by a car and killed while crossing the street to offer help in an accident which had just occurred. St. Mark’s people were the only family Joe had, and all his spare time was given to various forms of help to St. Mark’s and its parishioners. All of Joe’s estate was willed to St. Mark’s.
In 1976 a new Stewardship Plan was put into effect in place of the former Every Member Canvass. It has proved to be more effective than the former Canvass.
Also in 1976, a New Members plan was initiated. It was designed to attract newcomers to town, as well as unchurched members of the Foxboro Community.
In the early 1970’s St. Mark’s took a bold step by licensing women lay-readers, using girls for servers and acolytes, and electing women to the Vestry, and to offices of Wardens. In December 1977, Miss Patricia D. Handloss, an Episcopal Divinity School graduate and ordained Deacon, was appointed Assistant Rector. She has proven to be an excellent addition of St. Mark’s staff.
The old church was consecrated in 1905; the new church now being free of debt was consecrated by Bishop John B. Coburn on April 21, 1978, and in our prayers we pray for greater opportunities to serve our God, his son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
ST. MARK’S CHURCH: 1890-1978
Probably written by Bea Smith (1911-2006)
PARISH HISTORIAN
When Bishop William Lawrence made his annual address to the Diocesan Convention in the spring of 1905, he had this to say about our parish: “The people of the little church of Foxborough have at last and with commendable effort paid the debt and the church stands ready for consecration.” 1905 was a milestone in the history of this small but active parish, and it was on May 31, 1905, at 10:15 a.m. that the fulfillment of a dream of a small group of Episcopalians in Foxborough became a reality, as Bishop Lawrence consecrated the church building. The phrases “little church”, “commendable effort”, and “paid the debt” are in many respects phrases which have characterized the life of St. Mark’s parish ever since; for this parish is, comparatively speaking, a small parish. Not only commendable effort, but often great sacrifice and foresight, have been shown by the members of this church. And the fact that the debt was paid in full a very few years after the church was built indicates the desire on the part of past generations, as well as the present one, to keep our heads financially above water.
Several years ago our former rector, the Rev. Louis W. Pitt, Jr., in an article published in the CHURCH MILITANT magazine posed this question: “You will ask how all this has come to pass. It is a story of determination and ingenuity and hard work, and with it all Yankee independence.” These are the qualities which led to the founding of a small mission here in Foxboro by a group of Episcopalians, which led to their desire to have a church building to worship in, and which has kept them together through succeeding years of hard work, fellowship, and sometimes uncertainty.
It was on April 13, 1890, according to Mrs. Charles P. Smith, former Parish Historian, “that an enthusiastic group of Episcopalians met together to determine if services could be held in Foxboro. The first meeting place was ‘Knight of Honor Hall’ at the corner of South and Market Streets across from where the building is located, and later at St. Mark’s Mission Hall on School Street.” The Rev. Charles Elizur Barnes was our first minister from 1891-93, and according to the DIOCESAN JOURNAL of that year he commuted to Foxboro from Dorchester. The earliest Diocesan record makes this comment: “St. Mark’s Mission is not a year old. The services are held in a hall. A good degree of earnestness exists on the part of the people to plant the church in this town, and a flourishing parish, within moderate limits, could soon be formed here if the mission possessed a church in which services could worthily be held. The present condition is but the beginning of things, without much opportunity for growth until, by outside aid, a church is erected.”
Our former church building (now the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer) is the result of this fervent hope. Apparently the planners and builders followed the advice that Bishop Lawrence gave the Diocese in 1895, when he said to the Convention, “One warning I want to give…which is that new missions be conservative in the erection of new buildings. Such missions should never build on any but an excellent lot, central for the people, and of real value in case of future sale. “Despite this last rather gloomy thought Bishop Lawrence went on to describe the new church in Foxboro, which had been built that year, as a “modest and tasteful church.”
The first meeting held in the newly completed edifice was actually on May 31, 1894, although on the previous November 29, 1893, the cornerstone was laid with appropriate services conducted by the Rev. George E. Osgood of North Attleboro, whose encouragement had meant so much to a small group of worshippers in their desire to establish a church in Foxboro. He was assisted in this service by the Rev. Horace Hall Buck, who might be called the first real rector of the parish. The cornerstone was cut from the quarry at High Rock and bears a Greek Cross. In it is placed a brief history of the parish presented by W. M. Clark, Church Warden, and other articles of timely association. The fieldstone from which the church was built, was taken from a farm in the southern part of the town. The construction of the church was done by a local contractor, whose grand-daughter, Emily Knight, was one of our members. The name “St. Mark’s” was chosen because the earliest service held here was on April 13, 1890, close to the date of the festival of St. Mark, the Apostle.
In 1895, the year the church was completed, there were 18 families in the parish and 41 communicants; there were 3 teachers in the Church School and 17 pupils; and the debt which was to be paid off during the last ten years amounted to $1,284.85. By the time the church was consecrated in 1905, there was a total of 68 baptized persons, 42 communicants, and the Church School had grown to 50 pupils with 6 teachers. The total value of the new property was placed at $4,000, a sizeable sum, and it is interesting to note that the expenses for operating the church, including the salary of the part-time minister, totaled $364.43. The JOURNAL of 1905 lists the Rev. Albert Eugene George as minister-in-charge and his residence was in Walpole. Linus E. Carpenter was the Warden, John W. Haworth, in whose memory the window over the east transept was later given, was the Clerk, and Mrs. Lillie Bassett was the Treasurer. These people were among the 68 baptized people who on May 31, 1905, could take pride in their achievement as the Bishop of the Diocese consecrated their lovely church building.
Growth had taken place in the community, in the parish itself, but more significantly in the insight and understanding on the part of St. Mark’s members. The future lay ahead of them; they were justly proud of the present. What would happen in future years, they knew, would depend on their faithfulness and on the presence in their midst of the Lord to lead them on.
According to Mrs. Smith’s invaluable history of the parish to which we are greatly indebted, from 1909 to 1921 the church was united with Walpole and shared the services of the rector of Epiphany church of that town. From 1922-1935 the services of the rector of St. John’s church in Mansfield were shared by Foxboro. The Rev. James Arthur Thompson was minister from 1910-18. The Rev. Percy Barnes from 1918-21. And from 1922-35 one of the truly great ministries was felt in this parish as the Rev. Willard Holt Roots came from Mansfield to be our minister. There are many who remember with gratitude and affection the life of Mr. Roots, a man who was loved throughout the community, whose interest and concern for St. Mark’s were real, and who gave himself unsparingly in the service of our Lord.
One interesting item in the DIOCESAN REPORT of 1915, speaking of Foxboro, is this: “The canvas by Miss Elizabeth Henke (now Mrs. Fred Rogers) last summer discovered some nominal church people who have come into the country about the village and whom we are attempting to interest in this church. The industrial condition of the town is in a most pathetic state. Only one form of industry prevails, (straw hat), and that has been very poor indeed. The proprietors are looking forwards to some slight gains in this direction. Owing to these conditions no less than 46 individuals calling themselves ‘church folk’ have left town since the last canvass 4 years ago.” In spite of this, in 1915 there were 112 baptized persons in the parish, and the budget for operating expenses had been raised so that the parish now paid its minister $350 a year and was able to spend $37.42 on the Sunday School. In 1930, 25 years after the church had been consecrated, there were 129 baptized, 51 of them communicants, the largest number up to that time. And the receipts for the year amounted to $1,473.96. The year was closed with a balance of over $100.
In 1940, a Rector’s room was added to fill a much needed want of the Church School. Mrs. Smith reports that “at this time the grounds were landscaped by the Rector with the help of the men and boys of the parish.”
Following Mr. Root’s ministry, The Rev. Hugh Wallace Smith served here from 1938-42, the Rev. George Wm. Robert McCray in 1943, and the Rev. Forrest L. Nicol from the latter part of 1943 through 1944. It was in 1946 that the Rev. Gibson Winter came, and his ministry here until 1949 marked the beginning of the rapid growth of the parish. On June 1, 1946, the Trading Post Committee was formed, and in February, 1947, the parish was admitted into union with the Diocese, an important step in the growth of any parish in the Episcopal Church. On August 1, 1949, the Rev. Louis W. Pitt, Jr., came to be the first full-time Rector of St. Mark’s Church, and the outstanding, devoted ministry of Mr. Pitt until the early winter of 1954 was a ministry of Christian unselfish love for both parish and people. To a growing community and parish Mr. Pitt brought wisdom and understanding, and his departure from St. Mark’s found the church on strong and steady feet.
In May, 1955 there were over 600 baptized people in the parish; a considerable increase from the 68 who were members here 50 years earlier. There were almost 250 communicants as compared with the 42 in 1905; and our Church School alone had almost 200 children.
And yet the old days were not so bad nor was the beginning of the life of St. Mark’s one to be ashamed of. The parish grew because it was meant to grow. It flourished because God wanted it to be a witness for Him, and it has gone forward over the eighty-five years of its existence as a Christian fellowship of men, women and children. We celebrate with gratitude the consecration of this church in 1905.
Following is an account of the church’s consecration given in the CHURCHMAN of June 10, 1905. “St. Mark’s Church, Foxboro, Mass., was consecrated by Bishop Lawrence in the presence of a large congregation. The Bishop was assisted in the morning service by the Rev. Messrs. Walker, Winslow, Barnes and Hilliard. The Article of Donation was read by Mr. Linus Carpenter, Warden, and the Sentence of Consecration by the Rector, the Rev. A. E. George. The Bishop preached the sermon and was assisted in the Communion Service by Archdeacon Babcock and the Rector. Mr. George has been in charge at St. Mark’s as well as at the neighboring church at Walpole for some 3 years. Since that time the Walpole Church has been consecrated, and he has succeeded in paying the debt on St. Mark’s, so making its consecration possible. The Rev. Charles E. Barnes, who was present, was the first minister-in-charge of the mission and served for 3 years. The services were then held in a hall on School Street. In 1894 the church building was started. It is fieldstone and very favorably situated.”
Your attention is called to this last sentence. “The church is of fieldstone”; that is to say, it is strong as a good church should be, faithful and lasting. We have built upon a rock and that rock is Jesus Christ. “The church is favorably situated”; that is to say, the church is in the midst of a community here on the corner of South and Market Streets, opening its door to all who will enter, constantly seeking for new ways to bring the “good news” of the Saviour to the people of the community. May our fieldstone weather the years ahead, and may our favorable location be a challenge to our Christian outreach.
Bishop Lawrence, at this 1905 consecration service, did not forsee the tremendous growth of St. Mark’s (started by the Rev. Gibson Winter, and carried on under the Rev. Louis Pitt’s direction). The growth continued under the direction of the Rev. John Harper and the Rev. Frank Johnston. By the late 1950’s it became evident that the little fieldstone church on the corner of Market and South Streets could no longer accommodate the growing church school and congregation.
Mr. Pitt resigned in January 1954 as Rector of St. Mark’s, to accept a call to become Rector at All Saint’s Church in Brookline, Mass. He was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Harper, who took up his duties in July 1954. Mr. Pitt and Mr. Harper made many friends for St. Mark’s, and attracted many new parishioners. Mr. Harper resigned his Rectorship in July 1957, to become Rector of St. Matthews’s Church in Bedford Village, New York.
In September 1957, the Rev. Frank N. Johnston arrived to take up his duties as Rector of St. Mark’s. Mr. Johnston served as our Rector until September 1967; ten years of continual growth for St. Mark’s. In 1967 he resigned to become Rector of Christ Church in Manhassett, Long Island. It was during his Rectorship that the present church was planned and built. A planning committee was formed in October 1958 to study possible sites for the new church. In July 1959 a report of the planning committee was submitted, with the committee’s recommendation. In September 1959, a Special Parish meeting was held to take action on the committee’s recommendation. The Meeting voted to proceed with steps to obtain land on South Street adjoining the Carl Sullivan homesite, and thereon build a church.
The site selected was on land owned by Miss Florence A. Carpenter, a descendant of one of the town’s early citizens. Miss Carpenter quoted a price for the land, and then proceeded to donate the land to the Parish. She was one of the participants in the ground-breaking ceremony.
In 1963, a new Rectory was built on Prospect Street for the use of the Rector and his family.
At the time of Mr. Johnston’s departure, we were well settled into the new church. The little fieldstone church at Market and South Streets was sold to the Lutheran Church; it was established therein as the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer.
Most of what has been said in this history so far has been about the physical growth of the parish, and its leadership. The history would not be complete if it did not point out the prime purpose of worship and Christian action by the church. Everything begins and is supported by our worship; it is the principal means of conveying the teachings of Christ to all people. Stemming from these teachings is the feeling of Christian community, and the spirit of this community is expressed in many activities.
One was the establishment in 1946 of The Trading Post where clothing and merchandise has been offered to people of Foxboro and surrounding communities at minimum prices. (It was reorganized in the Fall of 1977, and is now known as The New Trading Post. It performs the same services as did the former Trading Post.)
Another church-related community service is the Nursery and Kindergarten, which is operated each school year. Professionally qualified and well trained teachers serve the school; the goals of which are the development of the potential of each individual child. (In 1978 the school had an enrollment of 52 daily pupils).
In 1965 the subject of Civil Rights was uppermost in everyone’s thoughts. Out of this grew the nationally organized “March to Selma” in which our Rector, Mr. Johnston, participated..along with 4 lay parishioners: Bill Jobin, Joan Goodwin, Bob Estes and Elaine Lombardi.
By 1966 the need was felt for qualified direction of our Church School. Barbara Johnsen, a trained D.R.E. was appointed to the position which she held until her resignation in 1972. She still serves as consultant to the Church School, when needed, and is now Parish Secretary.
In 1968 St. Mark’s pioneered in Foxboro the introduction of the Metco Program for assisting urban children to find education in Foxboro schools.
Christian Service is the formal name of one of the most important aspects of life in this community - the support of one another in times of crisis. Food, child care, housekeeping, transportation, and other needed things are items which come easily into the St. Mark’s community of concern.
Another item of community concern is FISH, which was originally sponsored by St. Mark’s, and which is now town-wide. It is an effort of volunteers who gladly take one day a month, and who do whatever is asked of them by whoever calls the FISH exchange.
The period of 1966-1972 found our parish and the Foxboro Community distressed by the Vietnamese War. It was a period of stress and division on all sides everywhere; some people in support of our government’s policy, and others violently opposed. St. Mark’s felt the divisions, as did other churches and organizations, and it did not subside until the American troops were withdrawn from Southeast Asia.
In the Fall of 1968, the Rev. Walter Sobol took up the Rectorship of St. Mark’s and served until December 1972. During Mr. Sobol’s rectorship the vestry voted to participate in the Low Cost Housing Corporation of Boston. In 1971 the parish lent to the Corporation $16,000, for the rehabilitation of two apartments in Braddock Park in Boston. The parish funds came from a bequest to St. Mark’s from Mrs. Bertha Tracy, mother of Mr. Phelps Tracy, a parishioner. In 1972 the parish began a long range program of low cost housing in Foxboro, through the construction of a home in Neponset Heights, which was later sold to a family from Boston.
In 1969 the vestry voted to assist in the support of Phoebe Hospital in Liberia. The hospital is associated with Cuttington College in Suakoko, Liberia. Dr. Robert Bain, M.D. served as St. Mark’s Missionary-in-Residence for two years, while on leave from Phoebe Hospital. The hospital is supported jointly by the Lutheran Church, Methodist Church and the Episcopal Church.
In August 1973, the nave of the church was badly damaged by a fire, set by two young men attempting to create a diversion from a robbery they had committed in the center of town. The repairs took several months, and in the meantime, services were held in the Undercroft..with those in attendance seated in a “congregation in-the-round” arrangement around a temporary altar. This seating arrangement afforded a coziness which became quite attractive to those present.
The Rev. Russell C. Ayers arrived on September 1st, 1973, right after the fire, to begin his ministry with us, as Rector. He has now served almost five years. Because of his disposition and organizational ability, St. Mark’s looks forward to strong and imaginative leadership for the next several years.
St. Mark’s had begun an earlier counseling program, under Mr. Ayers’ leadership it has joined with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Bethany Congregational Church, and the Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, in fostering an inter-church counseling program to assist people who need help with personal problems.
St. Mark’s continues to participate in the “Norfolk Fellowship”, an inter-church organization which works with prisoners at the Walpole Prison, and the Norfolk Corrective Facility.
The Life Building Fund has been established to assist families who may be faced with a crisis; this fund is entrusted solely to the Rector’s discretion. The Fund has been used as collateral for families whose stability required consolidation of their debts; it has furnished rent in instances of desperate need; it has bought needed medications, sent children to camp, put food into homes where there was absolutely none, and has stood behind families with reduced income because of long-term illness.
In 1975 tragedy struck St. Mark’s. Our Verger, Joe Fenton, was struck by a car and killed while crossing the street to offer help in an accident which had just occurred. St. Mark’s people were the only family Joe had, and all his spare time was given to various forms of help to St. Mark’s and its parishioners. All of Joe’s estate was willed to St. Mark’s.
In 1976 a new Stewardship Plan was put into effect in place of the former Every Member Canvass. It has proved to be more effective than the former Canvass.
Also in 1976, a New Members plan was initiated. It was designed to attract newcomers to town, as well as unchurched members of the Foxboro Community.
In the early 1970’s St. Mark’s took a bold step by licensing women lay-readers, using girls for servers and acolytes, and electing women to the Vestry, and to offices of Wardens. In December 1977, Miss Patricia D. Handloss, an Episcopal Divinity School graduate and ordained Deacon, was appointed Assistant Rector. She has proven to be an excellent addition of St. Mark’s staff.
The old church was consecrated in 1905; the new church now being free of debt was consecrated by Bishop John B. Coburn on April 21, 1978, and in our prayers we pray for greater opportunities to serve our God, his son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.