History of Saint Mark's United Methodist Church

In August of 2010 St. Mark's will be celebrating 50 years of ministry to the people of happen. Please check back here for weekly Historical Tidbits and information on Upcoming Events related to the Anniversary.

The church welcomed new Minister, Kirk Robinson, on June 22, 1980. The Pairs and Spares Sunday School sponsored a Ham Dinner and Talent Show called Pigmania which was held annually for many years. A new telephone system with two lines and an intercom with a privacy feature was installed. New secretary Frances Kelly began working in December.

New church secretary Liz Luttrall sold ball point pens to raise money for the purchase of an electric typewriterfor the Church Office. Gayle Mitchell negotiated with the company that made the stained glass windows to cut ehough glass for all the remaining windows before the change in dyes and colors that the company planned to make. Price of the windows will be $450.00 each. The Christmas Music program consisted of 50 voices directed by Linda Gendron and Georgia Brown

An Open House was held so church members could view the new Parsonage. The first stained glass window for the Sanctuary was donated by the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship). During the month of April Church attendance averaged 311 people and Sunday School averaged 162. The offering for April was $8404.84. Jack Grizzard was the Minister.

Dave Minniear elected President of the Adult Fellowship Class (later changed to Christian Fellowship Class) replacing Henry Gross who left the area. George Curtis was elected Vice President of the same class. Purchased new Parsonage (2700 sq. ft.), located on Riversedge Drive, for $55,000. There were 712 persons on the membership roles this year.

A decision was made to have one Church service at 10:00 am during the summer months (June through August). The United Methodist Youth Felowship went on a retreat at Makemie Woods. St. Mark's recognized 15 High School graduates (Class of 1976). The annual United Methodist Conference was held n June at the Hampton Coliseum. St. Mark's membership was called upon to help provide housing. In December the Chance Choir had 26 members led by Jean Curtis; the Chapel Choir had 23 members and the Youth Choir had 13 members, both led by Linda Gendron.

Church membership reached 656 after adding 54 new members, and losing 30 to death and other causes. The "Helen Renninger Memorial Fund" was started in October and proceeds were used to purchase the memorial case and stand in the Narthex. On November 9th the church observed its 15th Anniversary. Charter members were special guests and a reception was held in the Social Hall. The Treasurer's Report given by Alton Hockaday indicated the total income for 1975 was $71,604 with expenditures of $70,477. The mortgage indebtedness on the church as of February was $98,884. The parsonage mortgage indebtedness as of December 1975 was $9,357. The parsonage in 1975 was located at 16 Longwood Drive and Rev. Jack Grizzard was the Minister.

On March 3rd "Project Outreach" was started. Members were asked to bring canned goods on the first Sunday of each month, and they were donated to Hampton Social Services to provide food for those in need. The Bible Class completed a landscaping project in front of the Narthex window. In September, they proposed a sidewalk along the parking lot from the Fellowship Hall to the Sanctuary entrance. The Methodist Women held a bazaar on November 1st and raised $2,000 for carpeting for the Sanctuary. An additional $1,500 was donated to this project by a church member who desired to remain anonymous. Church membership reached 632, with 109 new members added during the year.

1973 brought continued growth to the spiritual life of the church. Sunday services served to motivate and strenghthen the Christian activities of the church. Weekly Bible study classes provided Christian knowledge and an understanding of the scriptures. Communion breakfast was held on Palm Sunday and Holy Communion on Maunday Thursday. Our members supported a community service on Good Friday and Sunrise Service at Fort Monroe on Sunday. Youth, Women's and Men's groups remained active. Visitation of both inactive and prospective members received emphasis and information was provided to residents of apartment complexes about the activities and spiritual opportunities avaliable in our church. The first Teacher Recognition and Dedication Service was held September 30, Education Sunday.

The church gained 73 new members bringing the total full membership to 509. Vacation Church School had an average attendance of 100. In July the United Methodist Men started a "Buy A Brick" campaign at one dollar each to raise money for a new sign. The sign was installed in October. St. Mark's Marker (The Newsletter) continued to provide members with information about the church and its activities. Info about Administrative Board meetings and budget requirements were included. With contributions, fund raising and donations an Everett piano was purchased for the choir room.

In February eight teachers began training and a traing session was held in March for all teachers. Vacation Bible School was attended by 73 students. In June the first ceremony of presenting Bibles to graduating seniors was held and seven were awarded. During the year 70 new members were received by the church exceeding the goal set in January. Paraments in all liturgical colors were acquired with the purple and white paraments being donated. A Memorial Book was placed in the Narthex to record all gifts and donations.

During this period, work was begun on establishing a church library. A Christian Flag and an American Flag were donated. The Worship Commission purchased a Processional Cross for the church. The Christmas season included "Hanging of The Greens" early in December, a play presented on the 20th and 24th, with a live Nativity Scene prior to the evening communion service. 1970 presented many challenges for the church. Financial affairs became critical. Members demonstrated Christian concern for the new church in its tenth year of existence. Some extended personal loans and one member used his home as collateral to secure a financial loan to the church.

In addition to fundraising, the church was challenged with planning for and establishing a new Church Laity Service organization. Merger with the Evangelical United Brethren church required restructuring of the system and created the Official Board Council of Ministries, responsible for initiating, developing and coordinating proposals for the church strategy for missions. The Music Committee presented some outstanding programs during this time.

On April 23rd the Methodist Church, and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged, to become the United Methodist Church. August 4th the Ground Breaking Ceremonies for the new church building and sanctuary took place. This was the third unit of construction in the growth of St. Mark's. The Cornerstone laying for the new church building and sanctuary was held on December 15th.

In June 1967 the Reverend Christopher L. Morse was transferred to Union Theological Seminary in New York City and Reverend Ervin Thomas Murphy Jr. was assigned. Members of the WSCS tutored public school children in an effort to increase the child's reading ability. During the year the Methodist Men purchased 125 new hymnals for the Church.

The Official Board appointed a building committee to study Church facilities needed for worship and education. On May 8,1966 the committee recommended: (1) construction of an additional wing to consist of five classrooms, two restrooms, and equipment room and furnishings, at an estimated cost of $60,000; (2) A new Sanctuary plus a paved parking lot at a cost of $148,844 and (3) completion of the remainder of the church school wing at a cost of $51,000.

During this period many church members were lost through military and civilian transfers. Reverend Tom Murphy was pastor during this time. Total membership was 384 with church service attendance remaining high. Lay interest and participation was excellent. A church=wide study course "Introduction of Christian Ethics" was well attended.

On April 28th the second unit of new classrooms was consecrated. Then on August 19th the first parsonage was purchased at 16 Longwood Drive, at a cost of $14,000. The previous parsonage located at 49 Cherry Acres Drive was occupied by a Lease Agreement.

The church "continued to provide the reverance of serious worship with the warmth of small church fellowship", as reported by Charles Nicholson. Sixty new members were added. Since the charter service on November 6th, our church had received 288 members. Fifty-five of those had been received on profession of faith. Since it is a military community, numerous members are lost due to transfers to new duty posts.

In June Reverend Christopher Ludwig Morse was assigned as Pastor of St. Mark's; following Mr Lazenby's transfer to Waynesboro, VA. The WSCS held a reception for the newly assigned minister and new Church School teachers. On October 7, the first Senior MYF was organized. By the end of October, the total full membership of the church was 146. In December a seperate building fund was started with a goal of $10,000 for construction of a unit of additional classrooms.

Ground was broken for St. Mark's Methodist Church on January 22, 1961. Participating in the ceremony were Reverend Ashby Lazenby, Mr. Arthur W. Woltz and Miss Martha Ferguson age 16 months, who was the first child to be baptized after the official organization of the church, The service was conducted with Dr. R. Orman Bryant, Peninsula District Superintendent.

The first morning worship service was held in the new building on June 15, 1961. The complex consisted of a combined chapel and social hall with a seating capacity for 150 people. In the afternoon the first wedding was performed in the new chapel by Dr. Bryant when the Rev. Lazenby was married to Miss Royal Dixon Prevette of Hickory N.C.

During the first year church membership increased to 116 members. The Women's Society of Christian Service began a tradition which continues today, serving dinners for the Methodist Men's monthly meetings.

Land located at the junction of Curle Road and Military Highway (renamed Mercury Blvd. in honor of Project Mercury) was purchased for a New Methodist Church.

SAINT MARK'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

99 E. Mercury Boulevard Hampton, Virginia 23669