St. Mark’s has been serving Emerald and the surrounding area for over 100 years. The people of St. Mark’s are followers of Jesus Christ, committed to growing our spiritual well-being and contributing to the well-being of the Hills community.
Our church community focus on living out a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We draw from the Bible, as the word of God*, and we believe in those things exclaimed by the Apostles Creed** and Nicene Creed**.
We aim to develop sustainable and vibrant rhythms of living out our faith practises in our personal lives and our common life as a church.
We have many activities and resources aimed to assist adults, families, children and youth to know God’s love for them and to experience His presence in their daily lives. You can find out more about these, by exploring this website.
We welcome anyone who wishes to learn more about Jesus Christ and his way of living.
We love seeing people enjoy the benefits of life in full as only Christ Jesus can provide.
If you are interested in visiting us or speaking to any of our ministers about faith, the Church or spiritual practises, please call our office in office hours, or fill in one of our online connect cards.
You can always come to a service on a Sunday morning at 9:30am, or Wednesday morning 11am
St. Mark’s is a parish church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.
* 2 Timothy 3:16 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
** Both the Apostle’s and Nicene Creed can be found here
Our past leaders
2017-2024: Rev Andrew Bowles
Andrew served as the Vicar of St Marks for 7 years. Prior to this appointment Andrew was the Assistant Minister at St. John’s Anglican Church Diamond Creek (2013-2017) and the Assistant Minister at The Anglican Parish of Banyule (2011-2012).
1981-2015: Rev Peter Crawford O.A.M.
Peter spent nearly 35 years serving St Marks, Emerald and wider community in the hills.
In 1977, Mr Crawford began as an assistant curate at St John’s in Toorak. He became the priest in charge at Emerald and Cockatoo in 1981. That same year, he became the vicar at St Mark’s Church in Emerald and remained in that role for 34 years.
In the Queen’s Birthday 2020 honours list, Mr Crawford received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his commitment to the Anglican Church and efforts throughout Emerald and surrounds.
“I had the privilege of leading St Mark’s Church for almost 35 years and we had hundreds and hundreds of terrific volunteers and great colleagues.”
Over his many years of service to the Anglican Church, Mr Crawford has been the priest in charge at Belgrave Heights, Selby, Monbulk and St Luke’s in Cockatoo. He was also a member of the Diocesan Tribunal from 2012-2013. Mr Crawford’s commitment to the community has also been a major feature throughout his life. In 1984, he co-founded ECHO Youth and Family Services – formerly Emerald Centre for Hope and Outreach – and was president there for 31 years. He has been Honorary Life Vice President of the Church Missionary Society of Australia since 2000 and also established the Emerald Op Shop in 1988. Other notable achievements for Mr Crawford include being director of the Anglican Evangelical Trust for 34 years and a member of the Emerald Emergency Planning Group for 10 years.
1969-1975: Rev Joseph Maria Verspaandonk
1957-1958: Rev William Keith Kenna
1948-1951: Rev Eric Victor Constable
1943-1948: Rev Stafford Stanley Viney
1940-1943: Rev Stanleigh Owen Seward
1937-1939: Rev Alfred Charles Donnelly
1935-1936: Rev Ronald Davis Lloyd
1934-1935: Rev Reginald McCoy
1928-1932: Rev Frederick Porter
1927-1927: Rev Albert Thomas Hope
1926-1927: Rev Robert Ernest Oswald Finger