With its twin towers standing tall above Pearl Street at Division Avenue, the church is built with limestone taken from the Grand River bed and the building is the largest stone structure in continuous use within the city, according to facilities manager David Hawley.
St. Mark’s history parallels the growth of the city around it. The parish was formally organized in 1836; barely 10 years after Louis Campau first hauled his canoe ashore on the west bank of the Grand River at an Indian village near the “grand rapids.”
“On the face of it, most people aren’t aware just how old that building is,” Barr said. “Not many people off the street have ever really thought about it.”
In 2001, ASA of this parish was around 275. It is now about 180.
What happened [other than, you know . . . the **obvious**]?
The website for St Mark desrribes it as a “vibrant growing church”. In 2009 it had 800 Members and ASA of less than 200. For 2002 to 2009 Plate & Pledge when adjusted for inflation declined by about 20 percent. Statmann
Note the rainbow flag. Pretty much says it all.
??”OBVIOUS”???!!! Whatever do you mean?!! 🙂
Yep, the usual **obvious** stuff. (Yawn.)
Put up a homosexual flag outside. On the website, post the message, “The Episcopal Church embraces diversity. We have ordained people of many races and ethnicities, women, and gay people as priests and bishops. These choices each have put us at odds with some in the greater Anglican community; however, we believe that God can call any one of us to ministry and our dialogue within Anglicanism continues.”
Then, expect people to come in droves, with their money.
When they head to the nearest Protestant megachurch instead – well, not to worry. It’s just the cost of discipleship.
I guess that haven’t figured out that the devil can call people to ministry, too.