St Mark's Anglican Church

1995 Arthur St, Windsor, Ontario

Rector:   Rev. Sue Paulton

Windsor (2006 population 323,342) sits on the U.S./Canadian border across from Detroit, Michigan.   It is the busiest border point in Canada.   Windsor hosts a vibrant Community College, St. Clair and the University of Windsor.   It also has much to offer from the arts, theatre, parks and recreation and is the hub for the automotive and tool/mold industry.   Most importantly – Windsor is a caring community.

St. Mark's started out as the Southwestern Anglican Mission of the Church of the Ascension.   The church at first was a little bungalow then a pre-fabricated structure built by volunteer labour in 1926.   St. Mark's has been a landmark for many years at Tecumseh and Campbell and many have come to depend on its presence in this West Side community.   From Depression years when the soup kitchen sustained many until today when fellowship brings us together for many events in support of each other and the community.

The name was chosen when the Rev. Henry Merryfield listed suggested names on a blackboard and St. Mark's was the one finally voted on.   The first pews were planks set on nail kegs before the men made the new pews.   The first pulpit was given by a Juvenile Judge in appreciation for lowering the crime rate in South Windsor as a result of the organization of the early church.   The current choir pews and the old pew in the Narthex are from Old St. Mark's.   In 1959 our present cornerstone was laid with the Rev. Errol Shilliday as Rector at that time and Wardens Larry Fairbrother and John Breeze.

The church is now part of a 2-point parish with St David's Anglican, Windsor.   It is in the Deanery of Essex in the Diocese of Huron.