St. Mark's Church was established in 1877, by two University of California faculty families. The Victorian styled, wood-frame parish house was replaced in 1902, by a church designed by architect, William Curlett (1845–1914) in the Mission Revival style.[2] The church is dedicated to Rev. William Ingraham Kip, California's first ProtestantEpiscopal bishop. St. Mark's it is the first building in Berkeley of the Mission Revival style.[3]
The historic church is located on 2300 Bancroft Way at Ellsworth Street. It has a square-shaped bell tower with two arched entrances on the first floor with an open loggia. Recent restoration reopened the arched openings. The octagonal domed roof has a cross at the top. The church has two stained-glass rose windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany on the west side of the church, that was installed in 1916. A second bell tower with a domed roof is on the southwest corner. The shape of the church is modeled after the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo in Carmel-by-the-Sea.[4][5]
In 1911, the church parish house, that was used for 16 years, was torn down to build a new parish house, designed by architect Willis Polk. The new house included a two-story house with an auditorium, Sunday school rooms, library, and office space. The new memorial parish house was a memorial gift by children of the late Mrs. James Palache.[6][2]