Saint Mark's Episcopal Church - Prattville, Alabama - Bell Towers on Waymarking.com

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church, Prattville, Alabama, was organized in 1859. The congregation met in a local Presbyterian Church and the old County Courthouse. In 1876, the congregation purchased an old Methodist chapel and moved it to the present site of the parish. The present church building was built in 1909. Other additions, such as the education wing, were added and expanded in the following decades.

The tower reflects the English Gothic revival architectural style popular for American Episcopal churches in the time it was designed and built. There is one bell in the tower, and it is still in use. In speaking with someone at the church, I learned the bell dates to the purchase of the Methodist Chapel. While the bell can be reached by going up a couple of ladders, there are no visits allowed for the general public. The church itself can be visited by going to the office and asking to see the nave.

The church is located at 178 East 4th Street in Prattville, Alabama, at the corner of East 4th Street and North Washington Street. Their main services are at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. on Sundays, with education times between the services. Their web address is www.stmarksal.org.

There is a historic marker by the church with the following information:

Saint Mark's was organized in 1859 as a mission of the Diocese of Alabama. Services were first held at the Presbyterian Church and in the old Court House. In December 1876, the congregation purchased an old wooden frame chapel from the Methodists and moved it to this site, where it was dedicated by Bishop Richard H. Wilmer on April 29, 1877. The baptismal font, pews, and church bell survive from that chapel. The present church building was completed in June 1909. The first service held in this structure was Morning Prayer on June 27. The first celebration of Holy Communion took place on July 25. The church was formally dedicated by Bishop Charles M. Beckwith on October 17. The small parish house west of the nave was built in 1953 and enlarged in 1966 and 1984. It is named in honor of the Chapman family. Miss Erin Chapman was credited with designing the 1909 building at the age of fifteen, and served as parish organist for more than forty years. The Fellowship Hall and Parish Education wing were dedicated by Bishop Robert O. Miller on April 14, 1996. TO THE ETERNAL GLORY OF GOD

Address of Tower: 178 East 4th Street Prattvill, AL USA 36067 Still Operational: yes Number of bells in tower?: 1 Relevant website?: [Web Link] Rate tower: Tours or visits allowed in tower?: No

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