History

For nearly a century, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has been a vibrant part of the fabric of Teaneck, an understated, ever-present Teaneck institution, striving to live by our motto “Celebrating God’s Inclusive Love.” Teaneck is a racially, ethnically, and socially diverse community, and our programs, priorities and leadership reflect and embrace that diversity.

St. Mark’s was created in April 1924 when Grace and Floyd Chadwick, concerned about the Christian education of young children, made their home on Cedar Lane–around the corner from our current church–available for Sunday school classes. Grace Chadwick taught the first class of five children, but adults became interested and began meeting at the Chadwick home for church services.

Four families comprised the original membership, but the parish quickly grew and in October 1925, a 150-square-foot lot at the corner of Grange and Chadwick roads was purchased from the Phelps estate. The first church building, a World War 1 prefabricated field chapel, was acquired and erected on the site. The first service was held there on Christmas morning 1925, celebrated by the Rev. William White, the church’s first vicar.

Sunday school enrollment grew to 45 children, and on January 2, 1926, the Rt. Rev. Edwin Lines signed an application for St. Mark’s to become a mission church of the Diocese of Newark. A fellowship hall was constructed west of the church.

As the congregation continued to grow, in 1958 another lot was purchased on the eastern edge of the property and a new, larger fellowship hall (later named for longtime parish leader John Carroll) and six classrooms were added. The former hall became the church, and the field chapel footprint was transformed into the church offices and meeting space.

Our congregation has long focused on our baptismal call to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. At our fiftieth anniversary in 1975, a new stained-glass window was installed behind the altar, with Native American, African-American, Latino and European figures surrounding Christ.

In the 1980s, when a gay and lesbian community group needed a place to meet, St. Mark’s opened its doors when others would not. In 1990 when a White police officer shot and killed a Black teenager, St. Mark’s and our rector were at the forefront of efforts to help bring the community together.

In 1996, in response to requests from parishioners seeking a final resting place for their loved ones, we obtained approval from the township to create a Memorial Garden on the north side of the current church. The ground was consecrated two years later for that use, and we now have the ashes of more than 50 people interred there.

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, St. Mark’s opened its doors to parishioners and members of the wider community throughout the day, culminating with Holy Eucharist with special prayers and music. We have consistently participated in interfaith fellowship with area Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations to foster mutual understanding and respect.

A longtime outreach of the church is the acclaimed Math Adventures and Word Play, a free community-based math and writing enrichment program, to young people from Teaneck and the surrounding area.

In 2002 we embarked on a major renovation called “Throw Open the Doors”, removing barriers for wheelchair users throughout the facility, making both the church and hall more adaptable to various needs, and adding an ADA-compliant individual restroom with infant changing facilities.

The redesign also created concert-hall acoustics in the expanded sanctuary, which has helped us enhance our music program for worship and beyond. A series of concerts organized by Director of Music George Wesner helped us raise funds to air-condition both the church and the fellowship hall and embark on other capital projects. In 2016, we dedicated the Wilma Jean Bland Pruden Memorial Organ in memory of a longtime parishioner.

The onset of COVID-19 in 2020 required a major adjustment to our communal life. We quickly pivoted to online services and sought innovative ways to ease isolation while stuck at home. In May of that year, we staged Saturday Light Semi-Live, an online variety show featuring a wide range of parishioner talent, followed by a festive holiday spectacular in December. In September of that year, the Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop of Newark, joined us in an online service for the investiture of our current Rector, the Rev. Joan F. Conley, who had joined us just months before the pandemic hit. For Christmas and Easter, our youth participated in creating online pageants depicting the Nativity and the Passion.

Just after Pentecost of 2021 we began “blended” (in person and on-line) services and continue to offer this option to those who cannot safely or comfortably attend in person, with Communion available outside afterwards. Two practices that arose during the pandemic: weekly Daily Office services and five “small groups of faith” continue to take place on-line.

As we approach our 100th anniversary, we remain committed to sustaining a joyful, faith filled community for generations to come.

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St. Mark’s Clergy

• The Rev. William J. White, Vicar (1926)
• The Rev. Richard Baxter, Vicar (1926-1934)
• The Rev. George F Collard, Vicar (1935)
• The Rev. Fessenden A. Nichols, Vicar (1936-1938)
• The Ven. Leonard F. Nichols, Vicar (1939-1947)
• The Rev. C. Philip Staples, Vicar (1948-1956)
• The Rev. Field H. Hobbs, Rector (1956-1965)
• The Rev. Joseph E. James, Rector (1965-1971)
• The Rev. Richard M. Louis, Rector (1971-1978)
• The Rev. Bruce R. Bramlett, Rector (1979-1985)
• The Rev. Canon Lucinda R. Laird, Rector (1986-1997)
• The Rev. Randall C. K. Day, Rector (1998-2008)
• Lay leadership supported by the Rev. Michael Gerhardt (2008-2011)
• The Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer, Rector (2011-2014)
• The Rev. Robert L. Shearer, Priest-in-Charge (2015-2019)
• The Rev. Joan F. Conley, Rector (2019-present)