About St. Mark’s
We’re a small church with deep roots in Newark.
For more than 175 years, people have gathered here to worship God, hear the Scriptures, share Communion, pray for one another, and serve our neighbors.
We’re an Episcopal church: rooted in an ancient Christian tradition, but still learning what it means to follow Jesus here and now.
And like any old church, we have a history. We’re grateful for what we’ve inherited, honest about where Christians have gotten things wrong, and hopeful about what God is doing next.
OUR WELCOME
When we say all are welcome, we want people to know what we mean.
People of different ages, races, backgrounds, incomes, family structures, sexual orientations, gender identities, political perspectives, abilities, and church experiences are welcome at St. Mark’s.
LGBTQ+ people and couples are already part of the life and leadership of our parish.
We don’t expect everyone here to think alike. Our common life isn’t built around political agreement, social status, or having all the right answers. It’s grounded in Jesus Christ and in the promises we make at baptism: to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being.
What Matters to Us
Worship
We come together to hear Scripture, pray, sing, receive Communion, and make room for God in our lives.
Community
Nobody follows Jesus alone. We eat together, laugh together, disagree sometimes, pray for each other, and try to show up when somebody needs us.
Service
Jesus sends us back out the door. We try to care for our neighbors in practical ways and to recognize the dignity of every person we meet.
Part of Newark Since 1851
St. Mark’s began when a small group of Episcopalians gathered in a Newark home in 1851. Generations later, we’re still here: worshipping in the same community, caring for this old stone church, and trying to serve our neighbors faithfully.
Our story includes perseverance, generosity, change, and the ordinary work of generations of people who kept showing up.
We’re Episcopal
St. Mark’s is part of a larger family of Christians. We belong to the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester and The Episcopal Church, which is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Our tradition brings together Scripture, ancient Christian worship, reason, prayer, sacrament, and a willingness to wrestle seriously with difficult questions.
A parish in transition
St. Mark’s is currently between rectors.
Our worship and ministries continue while the parish works with the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester to discern the shape of our future clergy leadership.
Transitions bring questions, but they’re also an opportunity to listen carefully: to God, to one another, and to the community we’re here to serve.
Leadership
St. Mark’s isn’t run by one person.
Our congregation elects a Vestry to oversee the parish’s temporal affairs and stewardship. The Wardens provide lay leadership, and our staff and volunteers carry out much of the everyday work of parish life.
During a clergy transition, the Wardens and Vestry work closely with the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester as we prepare for future clergy leadership.
-
St. Mark’s has an elected Vestry, with the Senior and Junior Wardens providing lay leadership for the parish. During our clergy transition, the Wardens and Vestry are working with the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester to care for the parish’s temporal affairs, sustain its ministries, and prepare for future clergy leadership.
Senior Warden: Kelly Wetmore
Junior Warden: Chris Kight
Treasurer and Vestry Member: Larry GrafVestry Members:
Sue Bouwens
Belinda Gams
Melissa Miller
Melinda SmithThe Vestry is elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting and shares responsibility for the temporal affairs and stewardship of St. Mark’s.
-
Our small staff supports the day-to-day life and ministry of St. Mark’s, working alongside the many parishioners who volunteer their time and gifts.
Office Administrator: Rachel Stoneham supports the parish office, communications, records, scheduling, and the administrative needs of St. Mark’s ministries.
Music Director: Dr. Zbigniew leads and supports the musical life of the parish, including music for Sunday worship and special services.
Sexton: Gordon DePauw cares for the church building and grounds and helps keep our spaces ready for worship, ministry, and community use.
Meet Our Leadership
-
![A woman with short blonde hair wearing a sleeveless orange top and beige pants, sitting on a cushioned bench, writing in a notebook in a well-lit room with natural sunlight and shadows on the wall.]()
Kelly Wetmore
SENIOR WARDEN
Kelly serves as our Senior Warden and helps lead the parish and Vestry during this time of transition. -
![A man with glasses and a beard, smiling, wearing a black shirt, sitting indoors near a window.]()
Chris Kight
JUNIOR WARDEN
Chris serves as our Junior Warden, supporting the parish’s ministry, operations, and life together during the transition.
-
![A woman with curly hair wearing a beige sleeveless top and beige pants, sitting on a white bench in a minimalist room with beige and wooden walls, with sunlight casting shadows.]()
Larry Graf
TREASURER
Larry serves as our Treasurer and helps care for the financial life and stewardship of St. Mark’s
-
![]()
Rachel Stoneham
PARISH SECRETARY
Rachel helps keep St. Mark’s connected and organized and is often the person you’ll reach when contacting the church office.
