St Marks Episcopal, Dalton

St Marks Episcopal Church

Dalton

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In 1864 there was only one Episcopalian in Dalton, Miss Cornelia Holiday. Two
years later Colonel and Mrs. Ben E. Green moved from Washington, D. C., and soon
formed a Sunday school held in Colonel Green's law office, then in the court house.

   A church was built in 1871 on Depot street on lots donated by Colonel and
Mrs. Green for church and rectory. That year Bishop Beckwith held the first
services in the new church. In his report he says: "The congregation in Dalton,
after many trials, are in possession of a handsome Gothic church with seating
capacity for three hundred."

   In 1896 a new church was built on Pentz street, fifty-six communicants being
enrolled. The new church was much smaller than the original, and for some time
had only occasional services.

   Bishop Beckwith died in 1890 and Bishop C. K. Nelson succeeded him. As a
tribute to his last official act being performed in Saint Mark's, Dalton, Bishop
Nelson presented a handsome brass cross and vases for the communion table.

   The church has many other memorials. The altar from the first Saint Mark's
has been restored, and placed upon it are the above mentioned cross and vases in
memory of Bishop Beckwith; on either side are brass candlesticks to match,
memorials for Colonel and Mrs. Green from their daughter, Miss Carrie Green. The
alms basin was presented by Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Hollings-worth in memory of their
son, Latimer, a soldier of the World War. The book rest for the altar is a gift
from the rector, Reverend Thomas Duck, and the processional cross is in memory
of Joseph M. Self from his brothers. The old pipe organ given in early days to
the parish, is now one of the treasured antiques of Saint Philip's Cathedral,
Atlanta, being the one used by John Wesley in his first Sunday school held in
Christ Church in Savannah. In its place is a double manual Estey combination
pipe and reed organ.

   General Bryan M. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. John Black and family, Captain and Mrs.
Pierce Home and family, Col. and Mrs. B. E. Green and family, Charles Flowers
and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, Mr. and Mrs. Self and family, Major and Mrs.
Lucas, Capt. T. C. Thompson and others were all active members and their names
will always be held dear in the church.

   The present vestry are John Black, senior warden; John Ratcliffe, junior
warden; E. Burton Shaw, Frank Hawkins, H. W. Nevin, L. B. Lawton, Miss Annie
Home, Miss Carrie Green, Mrs. Swift Maddox, and Mrs. C. L. Bradley. (Rev. John
H. Soper is the present rector, 1936.)

Source: History of Whitfield County, 1936

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This page was last updated on -03/17/2024