CHURCH HISTORY

The St. Mark Primitive Baptist Church was established in the early 1900s under the leadership of Elder Green Horton in the town of “Vaughn’s Hollow”. St Mark P. B. Church branched from the Elkmont Primitive Baptist Church where Elder Sam Bridgeforth was the pastor and became a part of the Indian Creek P.B. Association.

Since the establishment of the church, we have had six pastors: Elder Green Horton, Elder Joe Baker, Elder Annaise Green, Elder Lester Baker, Elder Maury Patton and our present pastor, Elder Kenneth Owens. After the death of Elder Horton, Elder Shelvlee Malone became the overseer, conducting services on the third Sunday of each month, until the election of Elder Joe Baker.

In the 1960s, after the growth of the community and the movement of a large number of the church’s family members to the Athens area, St. Mark moved from Vaughn’s Hollow to 1214 Plainview Circle where we remained until the year 2000. Due to a growing need for classrooms and a larger fellowship hall and sanctuary, a new facility was built under the leadership of Elder Owens and the deacons. They searched for land and a suitable location. The Lord blessed us with a new facility at our current location of 740 West Sanderfer Road, Athens, Alabama.

The following are actively serving on the Deacon’s Board: Deacon John Wood (Chairperson), Deacon Elijah Townsend, Deacon Osteen Washington, Deacon Earl Green Sr., Deacon Jim Green, Deacon Bob Wood, and Deacon James Holt Jr. and Deacon Ralph Coleman.

The Mothers Board is composed of the following Mother Rosie Pickett, Mother Betty Green, Mother Stella Green, Mother Alice Coleman, Mother Mary Beddingfield, Mother Deborah Wood, Mother Diana Holt, and Mother Mamie Wood(Chairperson).

The Music Ministry of St. Mark is richly blessed with five choirs: ~ Women’s Choir, The Brotherhood Choir, Youth Choir, #1 Choir, # 2 Choir,Larney Smith-Pianist, and Laron Parker-drummer. We currently have three usher boards and Sunday School Classes for all ages.

Worship service is held every Sunday beginning at 11:00 a.m. after Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., with the exception of the fifth Sunday, when worship service begins at 8:00 a.m. every other 5th sunday.

The vision of the leadership and members of St. Mark P. B. Church is to build a Family Life Center on the church grounds. With God’s guidance, this vision shall be accomplished in due time.