St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Introduction

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St. Mark's Episcopal Church is the oldest religious building and the first stone church built in the city. A striking example of Gothic Revival architecture, it was constructed in 1896 using locally sourced grey sandstone. The small church features gothic stained glass windows, a steeply pitched shingled roof, and a large gothic main entrance doorway.

Images

St. Mark's Episcopal Church was built in 1896 and is a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture.

Backstory and Context

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An Episcopal minister from Livingston, Rev. Alfred Brown, conducted the first Protestant services in Big Timber in 1884. Regular services were soon held in a Congregational church, a schoolhouse (where the first services took place), and a building called Shankis Hall. Efforts to build the current church began in 1892. In 1895, an Episcopal women's guild, which had formed around 1884, sold a subscription paper to raise funds. Construction began that year and was completed in February 1896. The name of the church was originally going to be St. Paul's but was changed to St. Mark's in 1895. The church, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, was one several stone building erected in Big Timber during the late 1800s. A schoolhouse was moved to the church grounds in 1932 and has served as the church hall.

Sources

Hood, Davyd F. & Jiusto, Chere. "St. Mark's Episcopal Church." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. July 21, 1995. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/e3b15f88-fdfa-4349-8911-59a92f6bec8c.

The Montana National Register Sign Program. “St. Mark's Episcopal Church.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed July 15, 2020, http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/21111.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

St. Mark's Episcopal Church

Additional Information

St. Mark's Facebook Page