St. Mark's Episcopal Church (West Orange, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
St. Mark's Episcopal Church is a historic church located at 13 Main Street at Valley Road in West Orange, New Jersey
. It currently houses the Primera Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Libra de los Oranges, a Methodist
congregation.
The church has been called an "outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture" by Preservation New Jersey, and was listed as one of the ten most endangered historic sites in New Jersey in 1996. It has been said that the building "represents the beginning and the end of the ecclesiological style in the United States." The Ecclesiological style movement in church architecture advocated Gothic revival architecture
using theological arguments.
. Within a few decades it had become the largest and wealthiest Episcopal congregation in and around "The Oranges
" of New Jersey.
Work on the brownstone
main church began in 1828. An addition completed in 1860-1861, including the steeple
, is attributed to noted architect Richard Upjohn
.
St. Mark's ran the first elementary school in West Orange beginning in 1865. This school building was destroyed by fire in 1926. It also ran the first high school in West Orange, which graduated a class of nine students in 1893. A new high school building was opened in 1898, which was destroyed by fire on February 27, 1913.
The parish prosperered until the 1960s, when declining attendance led to mounting financial hardships. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, but the church and its adjacent cemetery fell into disrepair. In 2004, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
leased it Lamb of God Fellowship, a Renewal
congregation, for what was intended to be a long-term stay, but the Fellowship left in 2009 due to the high cost of maintaining the property. As of 2010 the Diocese was attempting to sell the property The cross atop the structure was shaken loose in the 2011 earthquake
and fell to the ground.
West Orange, New Jersey
West Orange is a township in central Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 46,207...
. It currently houses the Primera Iglesia Evangelica Metodista Libra de los Oranges, a Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
congregation.
The church has been called an "outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture" by Preservation New Jersey, and was listed as one of the ten most endangered historic sites in New Jersey in 1996. It has been said that the building "represents the beginning and the end of the ecclesiological style in the United States." The Ecclesiological style movement in church architecture advocated Gothic revival architecture
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
using theological arguments.
History
The original Episcopal congregation was founded in 1828 as an offshoot of Trinity Parish in NewarkNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. Within a few decades it had become the largest and wealthiest Episcopal congregation in and around "The Oranges
The Oranges
The Oranges are a group of four municipalities in Essex County, New Jersey, all of which have the word Orange in their name. All of these communities were named for the ruler of England, William III of England, also known as William of Orange...
" of New Jersey.
Work on the brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
main church began in 1828. An addition completed in 1860-1861, including the steeple
Steeple (architecture)
A steeple, in architecture, is a tall tower on a building, often topped by a spire. Steeples are very common on Christian churches and cathedrals and the use of the term generally connotes a religious structure...
, is attributed to noted architect Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn was an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and became most famous for his Gothic Revival churches. He was partially responsible for launching the movement to such popularity in the United States. Upjohn also did extensive work in and helped to popularize the...
.
St. Mark's ran the first elementary school in West Orange beginning in 1865. This school building was destroyed by fire in 1926. It also ran the first high school in West Orange, which graduated a class of nine students in 1893. A new high school building was opened in 1898, which was destroyed by fire on February 27, 1913.
The parish prosperered until the 1960s, when declining attendance led to mounting financial hardships. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, but the church and its adjacent cemetery fell into disrepair. In 2004, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark
Episcopal Diocese of Newark
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America comprising the northern third of New Jersey in the United States...
leased it Lamb of God Fellowship, a Renewal
Renewal (religion)
Renewal is the collective term for Charismatic, pentecostal and neo-charismatic churches.- Neo-charismatic churches :The neo-charismatic denominations have more than a million members in China, some of them belonging to the local churches...
congregation, for what was intended to be a long-term stay, but the Fellowship left in 2009 due to the high cost of maintaining the property. As of 2010 the Diocese was attempting to sell the property The cross atop the structure was shaken loose in the 2011 earthquake
2011 Virginia earthquake
The 2011 Virginia earthquake occurred on August 23, 2011, at 1:51 pm EDT in the Piedmont region of the U.S. state of Virginia. The epicenter, in Louisa County, was northwest of Richmond and south-southwest of the town of Mineral...
and fell to the ground.