St. Mark’s was founded early in 1954 when parishioners from St. Michael’s in the Village of Barrington responded to disputes regarding worship style by forming a church that would be of ‘low’ or moderate churchmanship.  Rejecting the elaborate prayers, costuming and altar decorations of a more Roman Catholic model in use at St. Michael’s, a group of 32 persons began meeting in homes, the first service of Morning Prayer was held on Sunday, March 28, 1954.  The group continued to meet and by October 5 of 1954 the Bishop recognized the Mission Church of St. Mark’s.

The mission church of St. Mark’s was approved as a ‘rural’ church that would serve the Fox River Grove and Cary area.  The fledgling congregation had continued to grow and it was not possible to continue to meet in member’s homes.  In February of 1955 when the property was purchased at 337 Ridge Road, the church’s address was actually Fox River Grove because Barrington Hills had not yet been incorporated. The cost of the 5 acre plot was $2,000 plus title expenses etc.

Anticipating the continued growth of the congregation the 1^st church building was planned “to be small and economical to build, yet attractive and adaptable to future expansion”.  The original building is now the connecting wing between the current church and the education building.  Ground was broken on December 11, 1955 and the dedication service was held on April 29, 1956 even though the building wasn’t quite complete – it still had no front door to close out the wind and rain on the day of dedication.  It was a relief to have a permanent location, having outgrown meeting in member’s homes the mission church of St. Mark’s had been meeting at North Barrington High School.

Between 1957 and 1959 the number of families on the roster of members almost doubled and St. Mark’s filed the paperwork to become a parish.  By May of 1959 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Barrington Hills had been formally admitted as a parish in the Diocese of Chicago.  And the congregation continued to grow.  Easter services having been severely crowded, the Christmas service in 1962 was to be held in a barn across the street from the little church building.  Newspapers caught the story and the image of celebrating the birth of our Savior Lord who was placed in a manger in such a location turned out more than 400 persons.

The case had been made that the little church needed to be replaced with a larger structure and the existing church would become the parish offices.  On September 22, 1963 the cornerstone for the new church was laid and the first service was Christmas Eve that same year.  The style of construction reflects the parish’s strong identity with a simple or ‘low’ church mode of worship.  The New England Colonial-style space seats 300 if the balcony is employed. And the congregation continued to grow.

By the mid 1960s it was clear that St. Mark’s needed space for Church School and other parish activities.  In September of 1968 the cornerstone was laid for the new education building with completion in the spring of 1969.

***

The parish started the Day School as a ministry to the community in 1966. Regarded by the State of Illinois as one of the finest schools of its kind, St. Mark’s Day School is a non-denominational, state licensed pre-school.  It is a member of the National and Chicago Association for Education of Young Children.

***

The focus on education as a ministry has also been reflected in Sunday morning programs for all ages and committed teachers and leaders have had positive effects on many lives through the years.

St. Mark’s continues to be a center for excellent liturgy and music as well as a nexus for ministry to the local area.