St. Mark's History
Worshipping Together Since the 1800's
If you've ever driven down Mt Holly-Huntersville Road, you may have wondered about the beautiful old church up on the hill. St. Mark's Episcopal Church's first congregation dates back over 140 years to the 1880's. We are proud to be a longstanding pillar in the Huntersville community, or rather the town of Long Creek, as the area was once known.
Read more to learn about our historic grounds throughout the years.
Our Historic Past
1883
Columbus W. McCoy Invites Joseph Blount Cheshire to Long Creek
Columbus W. McCoy of Long Creek Township invites Joseph Blount Cheshire from St. Peter's church in Charlotte to hold a service in his community, stating that a number of people in his neighborhood had manifested an interest in the Episcopal Church. McCoy had formerly been a Presbyterian, but having become acquainted with the Book of Common Prayer, he expressed a desire to join the Episcopal Church. Cheshire accepted the invitation, and on November 18 held his first service there in the community schoolhouse. He passed the night with Mr. McCoy and spent the next day in visiting the people of the neighborhood. He felt that "very little can be accomplished in a new field by merely having a service, even a Sunday service, unless time is given to personal familiar visiting from house to house, to know the people, and to establish some influence among them." He held a second service that night, and returned to Charlotte the following morning. This same procedure was followed in his subsequent visits.
1886-1887
Building Our Church
In 1886, the land was donated and the cornerstone of the church building was laid. In 1887, the first service in our worship space was held.
1884
The Congregation Grows
Beginning in May, 1884, Cheshire held monthly services in the Long Creek community. Observing the growing interest of the community in the church, he decided to hold a series of services for them from August 12 through the 6th. He secured the assistance of Rev. Dr. George B. Wetmore and Rev. Mr. Osborne. The services were held in Beach Cliff Schoolhouse and were so well attended that part of the congregation was forced to sit out-of-doors. Cheshire and his assistants took turns in preaching in the morning and evening. In the afternoons they visited those families who had shown an interest in becoming members of the church. In the course of the week they baptized sixteen persons, for the most part children, and at the end of the services fourteen adults signified their desire to be confirmed. At the close of the week's preaching Cheshire was presented with a petition signed by eleven persons who asked that they be organized as a mission under the name of St. Mark's Chapel. This was indeed a successful conclusion to the week's work.
1897
Parish House was Built
This building served as our Rectory for St. Mark's priests and families for decades. It now holds Sunday school classes, our nursery, and our Rafter's bridal suite.
1946
McCoy Cemetery Entrusted to Our Care
Thomas McCoy (1873-1949), son of Albert McCoy and member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, established a perpetual trust to the parish in the 1940’s for the care and upkeep of the cemetery at St. Mark’s as well as the slave cemetery.
2020
Rafters Ground Breaking
July 2020: Ground breaking for our new building "The Rafters". This building gives us additional space to meet, grow, and help serve our new endeavor "Flyin' Lion Transition to Work Ministry". We host weddings and community events to raise funds for our Flyin' Lions Ministry.
2021
The Rafters Opens and Flyin' Lion Ministries Launches
The Rafters officially opened in March 2021 and we held our first wedding in June of that year.
Our Flyin' Lion Transition to Employment Program holds its first class in April 2021.
Our Mission: To create a community that embraces acceptance, encourages the talents and enhances the skills of economically challenged and differently abled adults seeking to become self supporting.