Saint Mark’s is celebrating our 75th anniversary as a congregation in 2026. We have many events planned throughout the year to celebrate the history and the future of Saint Mark’s.

We kicked off with an organ recital on Sunday, February 15.  Michael Schreffler offered a variety of organ pieces. See the program here.

On May 7, 1951, the Convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio accepted Saint Mark’s, then called the Tri-Village Episcopalians, as a Mission of the Diocese. This is the official creation of Saint Mark’s.  The Sunday closest to this is May 10. We had a Eucharistic Prayer written by the Youth Group at the 10:30 a.m. service and a 1950’s-themed coffee hour. 

Sunday May 24 was Pentecost, which is considered the birthday of the church because it marks the day when the apostles started spreading the message of Jesus. We had our traditional Pentecost Picnic as a birthday party for Saint Mark’s.

We had a float in Upper Arlington’s Fourth of July parade in honor of our 75th anniversary. It was a special parade because it is also the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The first service of Saint Mark’s was on September 9, 1951. The Sunday closest to that is September 13. Children’s Formation created a time capsule that we burried and we  had a Fall Kick-Off party.  We will also premiered an anthem for the Canterbury Choir commissioned in honor of Saint Mark’s 75th Anniversary at that service.

On Sunday, October 4, at 4 p.m. we will have a special choral evensong. We have commissioned an evensong setting and canticles in celebration of the 75th anniversary; this service will be the world premiere of those. Bishop White will be the officiant of the service.  A special reception will follow.

Sunday, November 1, is All Saints’ Day. We remember those who have gone before us. Sunday morning services and evensong will focus on the founders and other pillars of the congregation.

In addition to these events.  We are planning on working on a few other things. 

We have commissioned anthems for the Saint Mark’s Choir  and a hymn in honor of the 75th anniversary.

In the deed to the property of Saint Mark’s, there is a restrictive covenant that prohibits selling the property to African Americans or allowing African Americans to live on the property. While this covenant is no longer enforceable, we would like to have it removed.  Also, we will honor Pleasant Litchford, one of the early owners of the property that Saint Mark’s is on. Pleasant Litchford was a former slave who bought land in what is now Upper Arlington and built one of the first African American communities in central Ohio.

We are going to update the hall of history near the nursery; we have two blank posters in that wall and will add to one of them.

We are working on an oral-history project focusing on the last 25 years. 

Please join us in celebrating the past 75 years of Saint Mark’s and helping us get ready for the next 75 years.