HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia on its 150th anniversary.

Founded in 1866, St. Mark's was originally a mission church of St. James and the congregation grew rapidly. After outgrowing three buildings in their first 50 years, church leaders moved the congregation to a new building in the West End of Richmond. The Georgian Revival style building opened in 1922, was consecrated in 1946, and is still in use today.

Under the leadership of Rev. Edward Meeks ``Pope'' Gregory, St. Mark's was the first Episcopal church in Richmond to integrate its parish in 1967. Rev. Gregory invited the members of the Osgood Memorial Episcopal Church, to join St. Mark's congregation after they were displaced by the building of the downtown expressway.

Over the last 150 years, St. Mark's has continued to be a leader in the Richmond community. In the 1980s, the church offered compassionate responses and funeral services to victims of HIV/AIDS, as well as starting the Richmond AIDS Ministry. More recently, St. Mark's has proudly performed wedding ceremonies for all couples.

Today, St. Mark's hosts fundraisers for the Fan Free Clinic, provides cooling centers in the summer months, serves as a food pantry twice a month, provides school supplies to a nearby school, and is continuously involved with the Richmond community. Additionally, this summer, in honor of their 150th anniversary, St. Mark's will re-launch a neighborhood summer reading program for elementary school students.

Mr. Speaker, as St. Mark's Episcopal Church celebrates this historic anniversary, the congregation can rejoice in 150 years of fellowship. I wish them many more years of dedicated service to the Richmond community.