Old St. Mark’s Church

Before St. Mark’s Episcopal Church had walls, the congregation met weekly at the Massasoit Hotel in Warren for liturgy and fundraising. By 1829, they had saved enough to build a proper church on the corner of Main and Church Streets. The building served the parish for nearly two centuries. Then, in 2013, a developer bought the property with plans to demolish the aging structure and replace it with modern housing. Warren residents mobilized. Petitions circulated. Town meetings grew heated. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in a last-ditch preservation effort. Ultimately, a local community member purchased the church and converted it into a private residence, preserving the original stained glass, wooden pews, and gothic arched windows. One congregation’s 184-year home became one family’s living room. The alternative was a parking lot. Warren chose memory over convenience.