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Saint Mark's Church - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Saint Mark's is a community of people who seek to be shaped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the great commandment to love God and our neighbors. We are called together day by day, week by week to lift our voices in praise of God, to seek God's nearer presence in prayer, and to work for the building up of God's kingdom, especially by reaching out to those in need.

Whether you are here for a minute or two because you happened to walk by, or for an hour because you are visiting Philadelphia and wanted a place to worship, or for a long time because you have been looking for a community of faith and have found it here, you are most welcome here.

Saint Mark's Church is known for its distinguished music program that graces our services, and lifts the spirits of parishioners and visitors alike. A core of eight professional singers and approximately fifteen talented volunteers comprise the Saint Mark's Choir, which sings the services for Solemn Mass (11:00 a.m. Sundays), Feast Days, and special services such as Evensong and Lessons & Carols, from the beginning of October to the Feast of Corpus Christi in June. The organ is an historic and beautiful Aeolian-Skinner instrument built in 1937, which incorporates earlier pipework by Austin/Carleton Michell, the Wanamaker Shop (string organ), and recent additions by Cornel Zimmer.

Musical Rendering of the Liturgy
The purpose of music at Saint Mark's is, quite simply, the musical rendering of the Liturgy, whether that be chanting of plainsong by the clergy, singing of the Ordinary of the Mass (Kyrie-Gloria-Sanctus-Benedictus Agnus Dei) and motets by the choir, hymns sung by the congregation, or voluntaries played on the grand organ. The repertoire is extremely wide-ranging, from the earliest known medieval music, through the Baroque/Classical/Romantic eras, to the most compelling and beautiful classical music being written today. On a given Sunday, one thus might hear organ music by Sweelinck, Bach, Mendelssohn, Widor, or Messiaen; choral mass settings by Tallis, Rheinberger, Howells, or Arvo Pärt; psalm singing in either plainsong (Gregorian) or 19th century Anglican (harmonized) chant; and choral motets by Palestrina, Handel, Mozart, Brahms, Duruflé, or MacMillan.

Saint Mark's Bell Ringers
In our tower we have a complete ring of eight bells which are rung to changes in the traditional English manner. We are very fortunate here at Saint Mark's to possess a set of bells arranged for English change-ringing. In addition to our two towers in Philadelphia there is a nearby tower in New Castle Delaware where we occasionally ring. All together there are nearly 50 towers in all of North America. World-wide there are about 5,500 towers, most of which are in England.

Ringing is a team effort and is as much, or more, a mental exercise as it is physical. Because of how well-balanced the bells are, the physical side of ringing comprises more technique and coordination than strength - even with bells weighing as much as a ton - or more. Our tenor bell - the heaviest in our set of bells - weighs 2,004 pounds. People of all ages, sizes, and both genders are involved in ringing, and our own band of bell ringers reflects that diversity.

Saint Mark's Church is offering weekday concerts on Wednesdays from 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. The recitals are open to the public and free of charge and the church is handicapped accessible from the West door (accessed through the garden.)

We are delighted to announce a partnership with The Curtis Institute of Music in which their organists perform regularly as soloists, and beginning on January 30th, other instrumentalists and singers as well. Come as often as you can, and spread the word!

Visit our web site for up-to-date information on our services along with current and upcoming musical events.

Visit ... saintmarksphiladelphia.org

Saint Mark's Church
1625 Locust Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Phone: 215-735-1416

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