Parish Facilities and Redevelopment Plan
Physical Plant
St. Mark's Church occupies a large lot directly across the street from the University of California campus. The church structure, the first built in California in neo-Mission style—stucco outside and redwood inside—was completed in February, 1902. The two domed towers that surmount the narthexes are a distinguishing feature of the building. Nearby are several other churches. The nave seats 350 and the adjoining chapel, forty-five. One hundred eighty people can be accommodated at meetings on the upper floor of the Parish Hall or 120 guests seated for meals. Currently two pre-schools rent space in the former Sunday School building, Williams Hall. These tenants share some space in Hodgkin Hall, where St. Mark's hosts coffee hours, church meetings, and special events. There are two fully equipped kitchens, one in the parish hall and one adjoining the library, that are used by both parishioners and community groups. As part of the Redevelopment project, however, Hodgkin Hall, the rental property, and the current garage are scheduled for demolition in summer 2012. The library space in the parish hall is large enough for forums and other meetings. It has recently been restored with fresh paint, new lighting and furniture. A parking garage for fifty-nine cars lies under the patio fronting Hodgkin Hall. With the addition of an elevator from the garage to the upper floors and a wheelchair lift to the chapel, the nave, chapel and parish hall are now completely accessible to the disabled. These areas were also seismically retrofitted as a result of the successful fundraising campaign begun in 1999.
Art and Unique Furnishings
One of the Tiffany windows at St. Mark's.
St. Mark's displays noteworthy works of art. The mosaic panels that decorate both the lower and upper parts of the façade of Williams Hall represent a remarkable iconographical and artistic achievement. The prominent Bay Area artist who designed them, Ruth Cravath, had an unusual eye for the historic symbolic lore of our faith. Although redevelopment plans envisage the demolishing of Williams Hall, these extraordinary mosaics will be carefully transferred to the new buildings.
The stained glass windows in the nave are considered to be some of the finest in the area. The north wall windows portray Bible scenes in Victorian to modern styles; the south wall presents a powerful modern series of six windows depicting the days of the Creation. A number of the windows, including the large rose window on the west wall, were created by the famed Tiffany Studios. The rose window, of La Farge opalescent glass, was installed in 1916 as a thank-offering by parishioners for the recovery of the rector from an accident. Also noteworthy in the nave are the needlework panels covering the kneelers surrounding the redwood altar. Made by women of the parish, they include one from Holy Spirit Mission for the Deaf, formerly housed at St. Mark's. The icon that hangs at the head of the north side aisle is by Dimitris Kolioussis, one of the foremost contemporary icon writers. He paints according to the traditional methods of Byzantine art, almost always on reclaimed wood panels made to look aged.
Blessing of the new baptismal font by Bishop Marc Andrus on Pentecost eve.
On Pentecost Sunday, 2011, the parish dedicated a new baptismal font in memory of the Rev George F. Tittmann, a former rector. It was designed by parishioner Scott Sullivan and constructed by Tittmann's son, Chip. It is meant to harmonize with our striking altar, also a memorial to Fr. Tittmann, designed by a past parishioner and also constructed by Chip. The altar and the font complete the original plan to honor his ministry among us.
A legacy gift several years ago from the Venerable Frederic P. Williams, a former music director, has enabled us to commission Kevin Fryer of San Francisco to build a dual-manual Flemish-style harpsichord. This instrument, when completed, will complement the superb Flentrop organ situated beneath the rose window.
Moving Forward: Redevelopment
With the strong lay leadership of St. Mark's architecture and redevelopment committees, we now stand ready to enter another exciting phase in our history.
In 2008, the prominent firm of Hudson McDonald entered into an agreement regarding redevelopment of the parish property on the south side of the church and the underground parking garage beneath it. The nave, parish hall and chapel will not be affected by the proposed development. The project will consist of a five-story, forty-four unit student residence independently managed, a 2800-square foot Lions Hall community center, and a renovated sixty-space parking garage. Construction could begin as early as summer 2012 and is estimated to take eighteen months. This project will obviously cause disruption and relocation of some regular parish activities but the vestry and architecture committees are already making plans to accommodate the parish during this period.
Redevelopment sketch showing the new building with St. Mark's to the left and the Berkeley City Club to the right.