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BALTIMORE - The former St. Mark?s UMC on Garrison Blvd. and Liberty Heights Ave. was sold at auction Jan. 10.

The church was built in 1909 and in its heyday was one of the city?s largest congregations with 800 members. By the 1970s, as the demographics changed the area from predominantly white to black, the first black pastor was appointed, in hopes of attracting more worshipers.

Early this century, the church merged with Orchard Park UMC, and in 2005, the merged congregation, with only about 40 members, became the Gwynn Oak UMC. In December, the last of the old parishioners held a service to say good-bye to the building in which they?d grown up.

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, the nearly 100-year-old pipe organ or the elaborately carved panels and doors -- according to the Baltimore Sun, which ran a full color article about the historic building. But it wasn?t to be.

After a short bidding barrage, Dennis Gibbs, a retired California banker, acquired the building for $705,000, what one Washington developer called 'a steal.' Gibbs is a preservationist and collector, including of historic estates in Virginia and a manor house in Washington state. He has not yet decided what he?ll do with the building.

The Rev. Richard Wright, pastor of Gwynn Oak, who had formerly served St. Mark?s, said, 'In the final analysis, it?s about ministry. If we?re not ministering to the community, then the community isn?t benefiting from the church being here.'

The proceeds of the sale will benefit Gwynn Oak?s building trust.