In 1884, Mrs. Lucy Boardman, a frequent visitor to Cocoa and Melbourne from her winter residence in Sanford, donated the land where St. Mark’s sits today. Construction began soon after, with it’s first service being held on Christmas Eve of 1886. Many in the congregation would arrive by water, mooring their boats on the banks of the Indian River. The historic chapel was constructed in the “board and batten Carpenter Gothic” style with ornate stained glass, mosaics, and “Merritt Island Mahogany”, a now-extinct type of lumber from the region. In 1888 the bell up in the tower (named “Michael”) was cast in New York and installed.
Although St. Mark’s has undergone significant additions and renovations over the years, most of the original interior woodwork and stained glass remains intact. When St. Mark’s was renovated in 1925, great care was taken to maintain the integrity of the original structure of the church. Stucco was added to the exterior, giving the building a Mediterranean style very popular at the time. Where additional woodwork was added to the interior, it closely matched the original.
The chapel is open to the public for viewing when there is no church service in session.
