The History of St. Mark's Lutheran Church

        St. Mark's Lutheran began as the Lutheran Missionary Society of Emporia in November 1882.

        Fifteen people met in the home of Mrs. C. Boorey. This group rented the Reformed Church at Ninth and Constitution in June 1884 and began holding service there. The Rev. James A. Hartman was their pastor, but the ill health of his wife necessitated his resignation in December of that same year. In June 1885, the Rev. Frank D. Altman began his time as pastor and St. Mark's reorganized with 22 members on June 21, 1885. On November 16, 1885, lot No. 101 and 103 on Constitution were purchased for the cost of $1495.45. The corner stone for the new church was laid at 3:00 PM Tuesday, April 10, 1888, and the building was dedicated on November 3, 1889.

        The opening service for the new church building was held on September 9, 1888, with the interior of the building still to be finished. Mr. Hans C. Jensen and Miss Eline E. Miller were the first two people to be married in St. Mark's congregation (September 20, 1885). Fritz Olaf Jansen, on September 13, 1885, was the first infant baptized, and the first recorded funeral service was held for Martha J. Griffith, who died on August 11, 1888.

        Through the decades that followed, St. Mark's pastors organized Luther League for the young folk of the church, the Men's Brotherhood group, and various other groups and ministries. St. Mark's congregation continued to grow.

        During the pastorate of Sherman E. Frederick (in the 1960's), the current church building was raised at Twelfth and Lincoln in Emporia. Ground was broken on July 31, 1960, and the cornerstone laid May 14, 1961.

        On July 2, 1961, the new structure was dedicated, and has been our congregational home ever since.