Saint Mark's Episcopal Church lasts 99 years

by Keith J. Doll

Havre/Hill County Historic Preservation Commission

Part 2 of a 2-part series

During the first part of February 1921, the Rev. Leonard J. Christler was sent a telegram from St. John's Episcopal Church in Auburn, New York, his former field. It was a call for him to come back to his field and be the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Christler declined the offer.

In March of that year, they notified him again to come back to his former field. This time, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and other civic organizations of Auburn also wrote. They stated, "Auburn loves you; she needs you, and it is the universal wish of her people that you come back." The Rev. Christler wired them back and stated, "This tribute of continued love and confidence after so many years deeply appreciated." The telegraph went on to say: "I devoutly wish to come to Auburn for a Sunday's service with you all, before making final decision."

On Easter Sunday, March 27, 1921, Easter services were held in the St. Mark's chapel for the last time. Extra songs were sung for the Easter service and the chapel was decorated with Easter lilies.

In April of 1921, the "I'll-give-a-days-work" campaign was started for St. Mark's Episcopal Church. On April 28, 1921, the vestrymen started the lathing, Lou Lucke and company was the first business to pledge the store employees and the next evening, Lou Lucke and the employees finished the lathing. As stated in the Havre Daily Promoter on April 29, 1921: "When the chancel is completed the floor will be laid and the windows put in."

In May of that year, "I'll-give-a-buck" was the slogan. By this time, the laying of the floor was almost complete, so were the installation of windows, plaster and most of the carpentry work. On the last drive the slogan was "Finish-her-up" week. As stated in the June 28, 1921, Havre Daily Promoter: "It is finished. After a dozen years and many drives for funds, St. Mark's Episcopal Church is now a completed work of art." It went on to say: "Generations yet to come will look upon it as a monument to the toil and civic pride of those who put their energy and gifts into the walls."

The "Stick-It-Out-Month" drive, was to do the finishing touches of the interior of St. Mark's Church ending April 14, 1922. Palm Sunday services were held in the chapel, and Easter Sunday was held in the now-finished upper level of the church. The first service in the main part of the church was held on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1922. The first service was attended by several groups of the I.O.O.F. lodges. They assembled at the temple first, and then marched to St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

St. Mark's was built in the shape of a cross. The red doors on the south side represent the tongues of fire and the symbol of the holy spirit. The original stained-glass windows were plain. Over the years, most of the stain glass windows have been replaced with other stain glass windows as memorials.

The Rev. Leonard J. Christler died on October 27, 1922. He was in the process of building a house on his homestead he filed on in July of 1914. It was located about three miles south of Havre on the Beaver Creek Road. The inside of the house wasn't completed yet and it was to have natural gas heat since they found it on their property. It was to be one of the first homes in the area to have gas heat. After he died, his widow Anna never finished the house and stayed in Havre to live. Soon their house became a hangout for young kids. No one knows how it burned down, by a lit cigarette or someone lit one too many matches. Today, on the east side of Beaver Creek Road, the chimney still stands and a hole where the house was, a reminder of time past.

Anna Christler lived in Havre before she moved back to New York to be closer to her family. Clerk and Recorder's Office records show that on Oct. 7, 1939, Anna Christler, then from Auburn, New York, deeded the two lots north of the church to St. Mark's Parish. The lots were to make a memorial park in the memory of her late husband, the Rev. Leonard J. Christler.

An education wing was built on the back far east side of the lots and attached to the church. It encased Sunday school rooms, Rectors room, heating room and bathrooms. It was going to be a two-story education wing, but at the time, only one level was built.

As stated in the Havre Daily Promoter: "It will not be forgotten in the unique history of St. Mark's that it was the little gifts and tokens of love furnished gladly by the common people which built the stone that now stands a monument to their credit."