PHOTOS COURTESY OF ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL, COCOA
Participating in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom at St. Mark’s Episcopal Community, Cocoa, were, from left: Michael Ayers, CEO, Melbourne Regional Chamber of Commerce; Marcia Gaedcke, president, Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; Pamela Gunthorpe, investor and community relations manager, Economic Development Council of Florida’s Space Coast; Delores Spearman and Dick Beagley, co-chairs, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community Campus of The Future; Bill Borger, warden, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church; Father Gary Jackson, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community; Tami and Russell Glover; The Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer, Bishop, the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida; Joi Robertson, head of school, St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy; Jeri Blanco, Deputy Mayor, Cocoa; Henry Parrish, Mayor, Cocoa; Nancy Elliot, chair, Historic Cocoa Village Association; Robyn Greene, chair, Main Street Cocoa; Jennifer Sugarman, president & CEO, Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Sue Davis, chair, Space Coast Inspiration Awards.
Rutherford B. Hayes was president when the forerunner of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church first opened its doors in 1878. And 140 years later, the church in historic Cocoa Village continues to build for the future.
To commemorate its 140th anniversary, the St. Mark’s Episcopal Community on June 2 launched its St. Mark’s CAN! “Community Action Network” to build awareness, understanding, and support of campus redevelopment, according to St. Mark’s Director of Development Ken Parks.
“St Mark’s launched St. Mark’s CAN! “Community Action Network” with the mission of inspiring Florida’s Space Coast and the world and to help preserve and improve its campus in historic Cocoa Village,” Parks said.
The 2 ½-hour event featured the ceremonial groundbreaking and consecration of The Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom. The expansion is part of the church’s phase one new “Campus of the Future” (1878-2078). More than 100 guests attended the event, including Bishop Greg Brewer of the Diocese of Central Florida; cake and punch were served in a festive atmosphere.
“The primary intention of St. Mark’s CAN! is building support for a multi-phase campus redevelopment initiative to include preservation of historic aspects of St. Mark’s Episcopal Community church and academy, as well as building a new academy building, to include a top-floor multi-purpose room overlooking the Indian River Lagoon intercostal waterway, along the banks of which the campus is situated,” Parks said.
To build regional awareness and support for the campus redevelopment, St. Mark’s Episcopal Community also launched the Space Coast Inspiration Awards, Parks said. “The awards will be presented on Saturday, October 13, featuring a performance by world-inspiring Christian academy survivor and singer Kechi, top finalist, America’s Got Talent 2017, and some of the most inspirational people of Florida’s Space Coast, our award winners,” he said. “Winners will be chosen in four categories: St. Mark’s; Historic Cocoa Village; Florida’s Space Coast; and The World!”
Currently, phase one of the campus redevelopment project, The Al Glover Family Chapel & Classroom, is in the final engineering and construction phase and is slated to begin later this year, Parks said. “The family chapel and classroom were fully funded by The Al Glover Family trust. The family is very involved in our church and academy and has a long history with our community,” Parks said.
Parks said the discernment phase of a capital campaign, developed in partnership with the Episcopal Church Foundation, is complete. Next up is the feasibility phase, followed by the capital development phase. “We anticipate the capital campaign getting underway later this year,” he said.
The cost of St. Mark’s multi-phase campus redevelopment will be finalized once the City of Cocoa completes its review and approval process, Parks said.
For more information, visit http://www.stmarkscan.org on the internet.
The church is located at 4 Church Street, Cocoa, FL, 32922. Information about the church can be obtained by calling 321-636-3781. The Rev. Gary Jackson is rector.