St. Mark's Episcopal Church sits on West Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia, North Carolina, the seat of Gaston County, where it has gathered for worship since 1877. Across nearly a century and a half, the parish has built a reputation for traditional Episcopal liturgy, a strong music program, and a wide network of outreach ministries that touch hundreds of people in the community each year. Members describe their congregation as a traditional parish in liturgy and architecture but a progressive one in organization and community involvement.
From a Bicycle Ride to a Parish
The earliest chapter of St. Mark's began on July 13, 1877, when five families gathered in Christian devotion for the first service of record. The Rev. William Robards Wetmore traveled by bicycle from Lincolnton to lead that first gathering. The name Mark was chosen because nearby congregations already bore the names of Matthew, Luke, and John. During the formative years, services moved between the old Academy on the north side of town, City Hall, and the old YMCA building.
The congregation eventually erected a church on West Long Avenue, which was consecrated on November 20, 1903, by the Rt. Rev. Junius M. Horner, Bishop of the Missionary District of Asheville. St. Mark's officially became a parish in 1915 with an enrollment of 74 communicants. The parish later moved to its present home at 258 West Franklin Boulevard, where Sunday worship continues a tradition that reaches back nearly 150 years.
Sunday Worship
Sunday morning at St. Mark's centers on a single principal service, Holy Eucharist Rite II, at 9:30 AM. On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation gathers instead for Holy Eucharist Rite I in traditional language. Both services follow the four-fold shape of Episcopal liturgy, moving from Gather, to The Word, to The Table, and finally Dismissal, with readings from the lectionary, a sermon, prayers for the world, and the receiving of Holy Communion.
All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion, regardless of denomination, and the church is open to anyone who wishes to attend. There is no dress code; visitors will find a mix of suits, shorts, and sandals. After the service, Coffee Hour begins at 10:30 AM, and Sunday School for all ages meets at 10:45 AM. Worship is livestreamed on YouTube, with recordings available afterward for anyone who wants to experience the liturgy before visiting in person.
Music at St. Mark's
Music is woven through Sunday worship and is one of the strengths of the parish. David Wilcox serves as Music Director and Organist, bringing nearly five decades of experience directing choral and handbell programs in Presbyterian, United Methodist, and Episcopal churches across the Southeast. He has led choirs that have appeared by invitation at choral directors' conventions and has served as Dean of a regional chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
The Chancel Choir welcomes singers from high school age and beyond. Rehearsals are held Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Choir Room, with a brief rehearsal before the service Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM. A Handbell Choir also performs for special services; no prior experience is required, and the time commitment is modest.
Outreach Across Gaston County
St. Mark's lives out its mission, "Christ-centered, touching lives, transforming hearts, and teaching God's Word," through a wide network of community ministries. Members are involved each month in addressing hunger, homelessness, and other needs across Gaston County, reaching hundreds of people every year.
The Soup/Sandwich Ministry meets at 10:00 AM every Wednesday, when volunteers prepare more than thirty-five bag lunches of soup, a sandwich, chips, fruit, and a drink, then distribute them at the local bus station. The Backpack Weekend Food Program sends weekend food bags home with children from Gardner Park Elementary School. Blessing Bags, small collections of essential items, are kept in members' cars for distribution to those in need, and the Caring Cupboard on Franklin Boulevard offers around-the-clock access to supplies.
Other outreach efforts include the Second Helping In-Reach Ministry, which stocks a parish food cabinet and freezer shelf for families experiencing shortage; Crisis Assistance Ministries (CAM), for which October is St. Mark's designated month to provide food; the Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry, in partnership with Mt. Zion; partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and Meals on Wheels; the Kairos Prison Ministry; AA meetings, held in the Balthis Room on Sundays and Tuesdays at 6:00 PM; ESL support; and ongoing assistance for homeless neighbors in Gastonia. The Good News Garden, a partnership with All Souls Episcopal Church, produces food that is used in the Soup/Sandwich program.
Walking With One Another Through Stephen Ministry
St. Mark's is a Stephen Ministry parish, with trained lay caregivers who walk alongside people through crisis, illness, grief, and other difficulties. Caregivers meet privately with those referred by clergy for conversation, listening, and prayer. The parish has shared written testimonials from care receivers whose lives have been touched by the program, through the loss of a spouse, a cancer diagnosis, an unplanned pregnancy, and the breakdown of a marriage, among other situations.
Formation at Every Stage
Sunday School for all ages meets at 10:45 AM, after the 9:30 worship service and 10:30 Coffee Hour. Nursery care is provided during the principal worship service for children three and younger.
The Youth Group, under the leadership of Associate Rector John Simpson, welcomes students in grades 6 through 12. Adult formation includes Education for Ministry (EfM), a small-group program of theological reflection and discernment that meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM. The Daughters of the King, a lay order of women organized in 1885, supports the spiritual life of the parish through prayer and service, with John Simpson serving as diocesan chaplain for the order.
Other parish groups include the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Aikido classes, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which gathers on the third Monday of each month at 9:00 AM in the Balthis Room to knit and pray. No knitting experience is needed; the group is happy to teach newcomers.
Joining the Parish
Anyone may join St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The path to membership follows the classic Episcopal routes of Baptism, Confirmation, Reception, or Letter of Transfer. Baptisms are typically scheduled on the traditional days in the liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, Easter Eve, the Day of Pentecost, and All Saints' Sunday, and on other Sundays by arrangement. Adults seeking baptism are invited to participate in the Adult Inquirers and Confirmation Classes.
Becoming a member is a way of identifying with others who have committed themselves to following Jesus. The parish's description of the journey echoes its mission: that no one can truly be a Christian in solitude, and that the parish is many strands bound together as a single cord finding strength in unity with Christ.
Clergy and Staff
Father Shawn Griffith serves as Rector, having led the parish for sixteen years after twenty-one years of military service as an Army pilot. He completed seminary at Virginia Theological Seminary and previously served a partnership of three small churches in southern Virginia. His ministry focus is outreach and evangelism.
Father John Simpson, Associate Rector, came to St. Mark's as his first cure after earning his Master of Divinity from the School of Theology at Sewanee: The University of the South. His work centers on youth ministry and program development, and he also serves as chaplain at Camp Henry.
The Venerable Brenda Gilbert is Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina and serves at St. Mark's. Cathy Wesson is a Deacon of the parish. Brenda Simpson directs Christian Formation, and David Wilcox directs music and serves as organist.
Beliefs and Identity
As Episcopalians, the parish follows the teachings of Jesus Christ whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world, and embraces a legacy of inclusion in which laypeople and clergy share leadership and governance. Core beliefs are drawn from the Book of Common Prayer's primary sources:
- The Bible, understood through tradition and reason
- The Baptismal Covenant
- The Catechism
- The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds
- The seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation of a Penitent, Matrimony, Orders, and Unction
St. Mark's sits within the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, less than two hours east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The parish office at 258 West Franklin Boulevard is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Online giving is available through Realm, with gifts also accepted by mail and during services.