Meet St. Mark's and la Iglesia de Guadalupana, Wilson

By Alice Freeman

The congregations of Saint Mark’s and Guadalupana are excited to host a visit by Bishop Peter Lee on Sunday, December 16, at two services (11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.), an event at which ALL  ARE WELCOME.

Saint Mark’s, established in 1887, is a traditionally and historically African American church which for many years has been diverse in its ethnic and racial membership. In 2000, this African American church welcomed the Hispanic/Latino congregation of La Iglesia de Guadalupana to share its space. This sharing has been a blessing to both congregations in so many ways.

The church is situated in a neighborhood that offers wonderful opportunities to serve area residents, churched and unchurched. Saint Mark’s is known citywide as a distribution center for the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina, which comes once a month. Between visits by the food truck, parishioners, other organizations and individuals contribute to the food pantry housed in the kitchen of the church (small, but effective). Many who seek assistance can find clothing from the racks in the parish hall.

But Saint Mark’s is most noted for its long-running After-School Tutoring Program for kids grades one through five and staffed by Saint Mark’s members, parishioners from Saint Timothy’s in Wilson and community volunteers. The tutoring program is most proud of the fact students who once received tutoring are now themselves tutors. The summer program for kids is also quite popular and is a special passion of Episcopal nun, Sister Christina from the Convent of Saint Margaret’s in Boston, Massachusetts, who comes every year to assist with the summer enrichment program.

Education has always been a priority with Saint Mark’s from its early beginnings. In the fall of 1891, The Rev. John William Perry, priest-in-charge of the mission church, started the Parish School, which at one point accommodated as many as 159 students at a time when there was only one public school that could only accommodate just over 300 of the 1,000 school-aged “colored” children.

Saint Mark’s has long opened its doors to the broader community for meetings and gatherings, including a Spanish-speaking Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group that meets three times per week, Wilson County Schools, Wesley Shelter (womens’ advocacy), sororities and others as neighborhood and community groups are welcomed.

For the bishop’s visit on Sunday, Saint Mark’s is pleased to present three candidates for confirmation—one adult and two teens—while Guadalupana prepares for 25 to be confirmed, 10 to receive their first communion (some of whom are to be confirmands), and one candidate for reaffirmation. Saint Mark’s and Guadalupana welcome you to come.