Welcome to St Mark's Parish Profile
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Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland
Parish Profile
Aberdeen St Mark's Church of Scotland is a well established congregation which began serving the people of Aberdeen as its South Parish Church in 1892.
The name "St Mark's" came into being in 1972 as a result of the union of the South and East & Belmont churches. In 1981 we were joined by the congregation of Trinity Church following a period of joint worship and a major fire in their building. In 2005 we joined Aberdeen's "Mither Kirk", the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting and Queen Street Parish Church to form the Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping and all three congregations work together to serve the city centre.
The church along with the Central Library and His Majesty's Theatre "forms the most distinguished grouping of major buildings in Aberdeen" (Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, October 2000) and provides the "salvation" in the weel kent "Education Salvation and Damnation" frontage on Rosemount Viaduct. The buildings can be seen from Aberdeen's principal thoroughfare, Union Street, at Union Bridge looking across Union Terrace Gardens.
Historical Note
The church was designed by A Marshall McKenzie and comprises a giant portico surmounted by a drum and high leaded dome modelled on St Paul's Cathedral. The first minister in 1892 was Rev William M Clow DD and since then we have been served by seven further ministers. The most recent incumbent, who was called in 1989, having been the second longest serving minister in our 118 year history.
More Recent Events
After 100 years of airborne pollution which caused severe deterioration to the leadwork of the dome we undertook a major fund raising effort just after we celebrated our centenary in 1992 which saw the dome re-leaded and the slated roof repaired. Since then we have redecorated the whole building outside and in, installed a lift into the Sanctuary and re-fitted one of our major assets, the kitchen.
Following the redecoration of the Sanctuary we held a two day Flower Festival with help from the Aberdeen and District Flower Club, which is one of the many outside organisations meeting regularly in the hall.
Current Worship Arrangements
There is one service each Sunday at 11.00am or at 10.00am during July and August (except during the period of the current vacancy). Communion is celebrated four times annually (January, Easter, June and October) with two additional services at 2.00pm in June and October when members of our "Circle of Care" are transported to Church and served afternoon tea in the hall following worship.
St Mark's is also a member of OAK (the Organisation of Aberdeen Kirks) and involved in monthly evening services usually held in the Crown Terrace Methodist Church.
The Sunday School & YF
We have a small but enthusiastic Sunday School and Youth Fellowship which are ably led by a dedicated team of leaders. Children of the Sunday School and Youth Fellowship join their parents for the first part of our Sunday worship and following the "Time for the Young at Heart", when they gather together at the front of the church, go downstairs to the Hall for their own classes and activities.
"Tinsel & Teatowels"
Our Christmas 2008
Sunday School Nativity Service
The St Mark's Messenger
The "Messenger" is our quarterly Church magazine which is delivered to each household within the congregation and posted to a number of cared-for members and others living outside Aberdeen.
Church Staff (salaried)
The minister has secretarial assistance in the Church office weekday mornings. We have the services of an Organist who also leads a small choir and a part time Church Officer/Hall Keeper on weekdays and Saturdays. Beadle duties on Sundays are performed by a rota of Office Bearers.
Facts and Figures
Our role presently stands at 413 and attendance at services varies between 120 - 160. We have 43 active elders on the Kirk Session and 56 members on the Congregational Board which includes all of the elders. Session and Board meet in alternate months except during July and August when an Executive Committee is appointed to deal with urgent business.
St Mark's is in a satisfactory financial position. We consistently meet our requirements to 121 and from total income of £113,000 at the end of 2008 we produced a surplus of over £6,600. Our Capital reserve then stood at £110,000 which was significantly lower than in the previous year wholly as a result of market performance. At the end of 2009 our total icome (subject to audit) was £117,000.
The Parish
The Church sits towards the south east of the Parish which stretches from Union Street in the south to Westburn Road in the north and extending from Argyll Place in the West End to George Street in the City Centre. The bulk of its area is taken up by residential properties in the Rosemount Area of the City. Housing is a mix of mainly privately owned flats, terraced houses and granite tenements but including public and social housing across the age spectrum from the 19th to 21st centuries. In the City Centre area there is a wide range of commercial property as well as part of the Robert Gordon University Campus at St Andrew Street. Only a modest number of members live in the Parish which is of recent design following various dissolutions of neighbouring Churches.
Our Organisations
The Guild meets every other Monday and is well attended, the Men's Club meets weekly on Mondays and separately, although joint meetings are held from time to time. The Guild of Friendship, an organisation for older members (including from outwith the congregation) meets on Monday afternoons. The OAK Café is open weekday mornings for teas, coffees and light lunches and a small company of the Girls' Brigade meets on Thursday evenings. The Scottish Country Dancing class meets every second Wednesday evening and includes non church members. The St Mark's Players (all age) and Stage Door (to age 18) meet on Sunday evenings and regularly present, Pantos, Plays & Musical entertainment on our well equipped stage in the Church hall. The Circle of Care is open to members aged 80 and over who receive regular visits from a team of volunteers. Both the Strollers (for older members) and the Ramblers as their names suggest meet outwith the Church building for their principal activities.
The Projects Committee
Was originally established to fundraise for the work on the Dome but it has remained in force and arranges a wide range of social and entertainment events throughout the year. We may finally have given up on the annual "Charity Shop" after the 2009 event but there will be many other Projects events to come.
Our Events
Are almost too many to mention, including a Burns Supper, Spring Plays with a Farmhouse Tea, Student Show Concert, weekly Summer Coffee Shops, St Andrew's Night, Panto or Cabaret, Christmas Coffee Shops and Sales and many others.
Mpachika Church
We are twinned with Mpachika Church in Malawi and have both visited and hosted members of our twin congregation. We have also supported the building of an orphan feeding kitchen at the church, provided funds for a pulpit and lectern, communion silver and glassware as well as contributing to a drinking water project.
Pulpit being made
Lectern in position
The Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping
The triskellis is the symbol of the
Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping
In 2005 we were invited by Presbytery to consider joining a city centre church grouping arrangement which was being required of the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting (an ecumenical union between the Church of Scotland and the United Reformed Church) and Queen Street Parish Church (a union of the North Church of St Andrew and Greyfriars John Knox Church) both of which were in vacancy.
The Kirk Session saw this as an opportunity to help expand our mission to the city centre and St Mark's became a member of the Aberdeen City Centre Parish Grouping. With two of the churches originally in vacancy it has taken some time to fully establish the Grouping but our efforts have paid off with Presbytery recently commending the Grouping for the work it is doing in providing a distribution service for the Big Issue magazine through volunteers from all three congregations.
In December 2009 the Grouping appointed a Community Outreach and Development Worker through funding provided by the Ministries Council.
The Manse
Is a terraced granite house in Mile End Avenue in the west end area of Aberdeen with accommodation over three floors. It comprises a Lounge, Sitting Room and toilet in the main ground floor, together with a Dining Room and large Kitchen in the wing. The first floor provides two Double Bedrooms and a Single Bedroom or Study and a family bathroom. The second floor provides a large flexible space which can be used as bedroom or study accommodation as required.
There is a good garden to the rear with a large single garage and access to a rear lane. There is on street resident parking. The manse is just over a mile from the church and is in the Mile End Primary and Aberdeen Grammar School zones. Plans are in hand to re-wire the whole building, install an updated kitchen and re-decorate throughout as well as fit new carpeting in the hall and staircase, public rooms and elsewhere.
The Manse
65 Mile End Avenue
Rear garden looking
towards greenhouse & garage.
The Future for St Mark's
St Mark's is designated as an "essential building" in the current Presbytery Plan and offers an unrestricted call. Skene Square Primary School is within the Parish boundary and therefore offers the potential for Chaplaincy as does Aberdeen Grammar School of which Skene Square is a 'feeder' school.
The “City Square Project” sees Union Terrace Gardens being raised and offers level access direct from Union Street to the front of the church. This project has recently been described as being as important to Aberdeen as was the construction of its Harbour and Union Street itself. St Mark’s has been directly involved in the focus group discussions as part of the public consultation on this project. (www.thecitysquareproject.com)
As a congregation we will offer commitment and support and in return we seek a minister to inspire, guide and encourage us in worship, service and pastoral care.
Vacancy Contact Details
Interim Moderator Rev Mark Rodgers
152D Gray Street
Aberdeen
AB10 6JW
(01224) 210810
e-mail Interim Moderator
Chair of Nominating Committee Mr David Yacamini
29 Rubislaw Park Crescent
Aberdeen
AB15 5BT
(01224) 316128
e-mail Chair of Nominating Committee
Session Clerk(s) Mr & Mrs Ian & Marjorie Lord
27 Hazlehead Road
Aberdeen
AB15 8EP
(01224) 321882
e-mail Sesion Clerks
Clerk to the Nominating Committee Mr Alex McConochie
21 Woodcroft Road
Bridge of Don
Aberdeen
AB22 8DU
(01224) 703200
e-mail Clerk to the Nominating Committee
Formal Applications
Applications should be submitted in writing, (including a CV and the names of two referees who will be approached in relation to the candidate's preaching, pastoral and other qualities), to the Chair of the Nominating Committee. Closing date for applications is Friday 12 March 2010 (12.00Noon)
Other Useful Information
Presbytery Clerks
Rev George S Cowie (01224) 315042
Rev Dr John A Ferguson (01224) 735041
Presbytery Office
Mastrick Parish Church
Greenfern Road
Aberdeen
AB16 6TR
(01224) 698119
Useful Links