Historic church sold in auction
BALTIMORE - The former St. Mark?s UMC on Garrison Blvd. and Liberty Heights Ave. was sold at auction Jan. 10.
The original church was built in 1909, and in its heyday was one of the city?s largest congregations with 800 members. But since 1970, the church has been in decline. In 2005, it merged with Orchard Park Jubilee UMC. The 40-member merged congregation was renamed Gwynn Oak UMC.
Some in the crowd of about 50 that gathered for the sale were hoping to buy individual parts of the church - the stunning stained glass windows that depict the story of Jesus and Methodism in America, the nearly 100-year-old pipe organ or the elaborately carved panels and doors. But it wasn?t to be.
After a short bidding barrage, Dennis Gibbs, a retired Californian banker, acquired the building for $705,000, in what one Washington developer called 'a steal.'
The proceeds of the sale will benefit Gwynn Oak?s building trust.
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