St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1869 to designs by Richard Upjohn, St. Mark's Episcopal Church stands in the mountains of Jim Thorpe, formerly Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania. Its Latin cross plan has a square crenellated bell tower set into the angle of nave and transept, topped by an octagonal stair turret. Walls of coursed dressed stone carry red stone trim, and lancet windows and tracery light the interior. The church is built into the rock of the adjacent mountain. Its interior holds Gothic rib vaults, English Minton tile floors, a Caen stone reredos modeled on the one at Windsor Castle, walnut pews, and stained glass largely by Louis Tiffany of New York. The church is regarded as one of the finest late Gothic Revival churches in Pennsylvania. Railroad magnate Asa Packer, who served as a vestryman for forty-four years, helped fund the church and its 1887 annex. The building reflects the wealth of the anthracite and rail era in Mauch Chunk.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the church as one of Pennsylvania's outstanding late Gothic Revival churches, noted for its adaptation to a difficult mountainside site and its lavish interior with Tiffany glass and a Caen stone reredos. It also links the church to railroad magnate Asa Packer, a vestryman and benefactor, and to the prosperity of Mauch Chunk in the anthracite era.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77001135, listed July 26, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Race and Susquehanna Sts., Jim Thorpe |
|---|---|
| County | Carbon County |
| Listed | July 26, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001135 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1847-1869 |
| Architect / builder | Richard Upjohn (architect) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 23, 1987 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original site; condition marked excellent; altered |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Old Mauch Chunk Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.86289, -75.73900 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77001135.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7589940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.