St. Mark’s history dates back to 1660. It is one of the most famous and important architectural landmarks in New York City.

Restoring Beauty Capital Campaign

In 1978, a major fire devastated St. Mark’s. Thanks to an outpouring of community support—and the sponsorship of a pioneering work and training program, the Preservation Youth Project—St. Mark’s was restored.

Much to everyone’s dismay, decades after that fire, failure of the copper gutters of the roof has resulted in deterioration of the interior plaster of the east and west balconies. These and other improvements are vitally important to keep St. Mark’s around for another 300 years.

Phase I — Immediate Need

St. Mark’s copper gutters must be replaced and related wood cornices repaired. The gutters on the East and West sides of the sanctuary have been completed; however, the gutters on the Parish Hall remain to be completed. This work is underway. The remaining cost for this phase is $150,000 and is urgently needed.

In addition to the gutters we also must refurbish windows in the church office and the rectory. The cost of this work is an additional $15,000 and is also urgently needed.

To donate for this work, please use this link: Contribute to Gutters and select the “Rebuild Gutters” fund.

Phase 2

Inside the building, the plaster must be restored, the Sanctuary repainted, and new carpet must be installed on the lower level seating risers (which provide critical seating for St. Mark’s program activity). This phase of restoration is estimated to cost a minimum of $1,000,000 and must take place as soon as possible. Further restoration work includes the refurbishing and painting of the wood cornices and windows of the exterior, repair of the original stained glass windows, and some much-needed program improvements. In addition, a major project to restore the 1838 cast-iron fence and granite foundation wall that surrounds the site—major sections of which are being pushed away by erosion—is a crucial near-term need.