The first known instance of Episcopal Church's presence in the village of LeRoy was recorded in 1802. In that year, the Rev. Phillips, an Episcopal missionary for central and western New York administered the "Ordninance of Baptism" to several of the residents of LeRoy (then known as Ganson's Settlement).
In 1817, the next Episcopal missionary, the Rev. Samuel Johnson gathered the local Episcopalians together to form St. Mark's Church in LeRoy. The congregation grew slowly, sharing a local school house with the Baptist and Presbyterian congregations of the village.
This sharing of one building with two other congregations was "...highly detrimental to the appreciation and understanding of the Episcopal service." So disheartened were the early members of St. Mark's that in 1825 the Vestry did not meet for the entire year. It was not until 1827 that the Episcopalians in LeRoy began to seriously contemplate building a church of their own.
In 1827, Jacob LeRoy, son of Herman LeRoy - for whom the village is named - came to the village as a land agent for his father. He gave an initial contribution of $1000 for a church building. With that money, plus the money gained from several building subscriptions, construction on the original church was started. Episcopal Bishop Hobart consecrated the structure in 1827
The old church, while substantial, was never quite satisfactory. Repairs and alterations were ongoing. Despite the limited financial resources of the congregation, it gradually became clear that the old church was simply not adequate to meet the needs of the congregation. The Vestry authorized the purchase of Upham's mill, located on the corner of present day Main and Church Streets. It was on the foundations of this old mill that Bishop Cox laid the cornerstone of the new church in 1869. The building was consecrated in 1876.
In 1877, to help with finances, the property upon which the old church was located was sold and the old church demolished. However, the cemetery remains, with a two hundred year old oak quietly standing sentinel. From 1870 to the present day, St. Mark's "on the corner" has served as both a cross section of the community and as a landmark for the village of LeRoy. The names of some of the founding members of this church, as well as other people who were prominent throughout the history of our church can be found on the stained glass windows, on commemorative plaques, and on other ceremonial items. As with rural congregations of all denominations,
St. Mark's has had both financial and spiritual peaks and valleys. Nevertheless, there has been, and still remains within our congregation, a deep and underlying faith and a determination to remain true to our Christian beliefs, lead a godly life, and extend a hand to those in need both within our congregation and beyond the walls of our church.
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Old St. Mark's Church
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Early View of New St. Mark's
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View of St. Mark's in 1903
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The Rose Window
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View of the Interior of St. Mark's Today
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St. Mark's Today
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