St. Mark's Episcopal Church records

The collection contains materials relating to the establishment, development and operation of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church; including administrative records such as a register of church services, meeting minutes and proceedings, and a Sunday school roll book; financial records that include account books, ledgers and treasurer reports; and items documenting church membership, such as parish registers. Also present in the collection are materials relating to the acquisition and maintenance of the church. The St. Mark's Episcopal Church Records is 5.2 linear feet and consists of materials dating from 1862-2005, with bulk dates spanning the years 1965-1984.

Series 1. Institutional History, 1862-1988, undated is 0.21 linear feet and consists of materials related to the founding and history of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church. It includes legal documents, church histories and studies, architectural descriptions, literary productions, and photographic and printed material.

Series 2. Administrative, 1865-1991, undated is 0.8 linear feet and encompasses records pertaining to the development and operation of the St. Mark's Episcopal Church. It includes vestry meeting minutes, notes and documentation of proceedings; registers of church services; a Sunday school officers and teachers roll; and literary productions and printed materials from the Diocese of South Carolina.

Series 3. Membership Records, 1864-2005, undated is 0.6 linear feet and consists principally of parish registers containing information on members of the church, i.e., their baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths, donations and attendance. Also present in the series is a typed remembrance of St. Mark's (1902 to 1918) from Nell Houston Chisholm- the goddaughter of Alonzo McClennan, a noted African American physician from Charleston. Bound items and obituaries are also part of this series.

Series 4. Church Activities and Affiliations, 1903-2005, undated is 0.71 linear feet and comprised of general correspondence concerning church finances and leadership; printed materials from church anniversaries and celebrations, such as invitations, programs, souvenir journals and hymns. Also contained within the series are church bulletins and newsletters, as well as documents pertaining to the planning and implementation of St. Mark's Every Member Canvass fundraiser in 1974.

Series 5. Legal and Financial Records, 1881-1989, undated is 0.64 linear feet. It includes cash and account books, ledgers, receipts and disbursements records, treasurer reports, church offering records, lists of contributors, correspondence from the church's finance committee, plus investment reviews and meeting minutes. Also included in the series are insurance policy documents from the Church Insurance Company and Church Agency Corporation.

Series 6. Property Records, 1974-1986, undated is 0.4 linear feet and consists primarily of materials relating to building repairs for the exterior rehabilitation and stabilization of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. The project was funded by the Fiscal Year 1983 Emergency Jobs Act Historic Preservation Grant and a Department of Interior Historic Preservation matching grant from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. The series includes cost estimates for building repair and renovation; bids for repair work from local Charleston contractors; floor plan proposals; invoices, bills and receipts for work completed; copies of checks including one from renowned Charleston blacksmith, Phillip Simmons who assisted with repairs to St. Mark's fence and gate; and correspondence from Herbert A. DeCosta, Jr. of H.A. De Costa Company: General Contractors, who served as project director for St. Mark's renovations. Other items in the series include correspondence to St. Mark's Treasurer, Henry P. Hutchison concerning tax exemption claims for the church and property committee meeting minutes.

Series 7. Photographic Material, 1865-1990, undated is 0.02 linear feet. It includes cash and account books, ledgers, receipts and disbursements records, treasurer reports, church offering records, lists of contributors, correspondence from the church's finance committee, plus investment reviews and meeting minutes. Also included in the series are building fund pledges and insurance policy documents from the Church Insurance Company and Church Agency Corporation.

Series 8. Miscellaneous 1877-1977, undated is 0.1 linear feet and consists of printed material and literary productions relating to Charleston County, and the dedication and consecration of churches. Also part of this series is microfiche, ephemera and notes from educator and congregation member, Dr. Eugene C. Hunt, which mention St. Mark's Episcopal Church.