St. Mark’s Episcopal Church members see their congregation as family oriented and that belief played a big part in the celebration of their church’s 130th anniversary, which was held June 8, 2025, Pentecost Sunday.
St. Mark’s youth led the congregation in song and liturgy along with the clergy celebrants; The Right Reverend C. Andrew Doyle, D.D., IX Bishop of Texas and Reverend Bob Moore.
St. Mark’s history is closely to that of Bay City.
Bay City came into being in 1894 after Matagorda County voters decided to move the county seat from Matagorda to Bay City, named for the northern Bay Prairie that was already taking shape, according to a church history by Mildred Phillips Hicks and Louise Brown Barr.
A more complete history of the church is on the Sentinel’s History section on Page 4. Also look for a photo of the church family taken outside after Sunday services on Page 3.
The loss of Matagorda residents to the new county seat in Bay City was followed within a few months by the loss of a large part of the congregation of the oldest Episcopal Church in Texas – Christ Church.
These residents who left Matagorda in 1894 and 1895, along with those already living in the northern Bay Prairie gathered for the first Episcopal worship service in Bay City.
And the families in that congregation formed the foundation of many St. Mark’s members today, said Dr. Nancy Kubecka, a Bay City dentist, whose family reaches across five generations at St. Mark’s – from her grandmother who was married in the church to her marriage there and that of her daughter’s matrimonial vows.
“The congregation has a family feel to it – a church family that’s kind of a great service. “We welcome new members openly and make them feel welcome,” Kubecka said.
Church member Debra Shield led a team to develop a Historical Information Booklet about the church along with her sister Diana Romine and Church Office Manager Martha Johnson. Debra, daughter of late Harley and Jane Savage, also a multi-generational family of St. Mark’s, was able to pull from recorded facts and cherished family stories to help develop the historical booklet. Debra Shield said “I was so filled with emotion during this service cherishing what we have today but also reflecting back on the many generations that shaped this congregation and loving family church.” She continued to share that was such an overwhelming celebration which exemplified the special spirit that God has at St. Mark’s.
The service started by welcomed everyone to the service and proclaimed the event to be celebrating Pentecost Sunday, Blessing and Dedication of the refurbished Pipe Organ, and the 130th Year Anniversary of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 1895 – 2025, themed as Remembering our Past, Cherishing Today, and Looking Forward to the Future.
That drew enthusiastic applause from the congregation.
This was a spectacular event for a Sunday Church Service and Fellowship Dinner. The Church Vestry’s Senior Warden Tim Frawley said that “So many church members worked hard over the past couple months planning and coordinating the event and working to spruce up the Church and Grounds. It seemed like a significant effort, but through our church family’s engagement, it was as simple as plan out the activities and then work the plan. It certainly was an act of fellowship and love by everyone pulling together.”
Looking around at the congregation, I saw many familiar faces from Bay City and Matagorda County. There were also many people who traveled in for this celebration including former Rectors of the church, the Organ restoration specialist, and many family members. The congregation filled the church on this Sunday with 140 participants.
The youth led service Sunday is part of the congregation established programs.
“We want the youth to feel part of the service and to create future leaders,” Kubecka pointed out.
The kids take part in the bible readings, prayers of the people, collections of the church and help serve as part of Holy Eucharist.
“We want them to be part of the service,” she explained.
The sermon was delivered by the Right Reverend C. Andrew Doyle, DD., the IX Bishop of Texas.
A striking feature of St. Mark’s is its stained-glass windows.
Doyle noted the windows don’t show the saints as many churches do, they all show a moment of Jesus’s life.
“Jesus is in our lives every day,” the Bishop said.
“This is a gospel of peace,” he added.
“They tell us of peace that has held us together.
“Parents bring children not to any church, but one where they will be loved,” he said.
“This is the kind of church where God moves and speaks.”
Doyle said the prayers of 1895 and 1910 “are the same prayers today.”
“Our prayers stretch far beyond.
“I hope the Spirit will come upon you.”
The Bishop said the church members 130 years ago “thought we would be sitting here today.
“They knew we would survive,” he said.
“I believe you all sitting here in a setting of love that will last another 130 years.
“Here I am Lord, send me.”
Another remarkable feature of the Sunday afternoon service was the blessing and dedication of the church’s rebuilt organ, quite in working order in this service.
Jakeb Silva, St. Mark’s organist/choirmaster, estimated the organ’s age at more than 100 years old.
The Bishop presided over a brief service to bless the organ.
At the conclusion of the church service, long term St. Mark’s member, Doctor Reverend James Ely provided the final blessing for the Congregation and meal which was catered by church members and served in the Parish Hall.
All the church members present for the service gathered afterwards in front of the church at the corner of Avenue E and 6th Street for a Church Family Photograph.
Above, was a drone that was scheduled to photograph the members on this special day. Bay City Police Department officers provided traffic control to support the drone photography.
