St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

i came here to attend a choral concert, performed by the peninsula women’s chorus. this space is located in a quiet part of palo alto, a few miles away from downtown, and away from the bustling business district. pretty much everything surrounding this church is residential, which was a nice change from typical concert venues.
they have their own parking lot in the rear, and a few spaces on the side of the building, and if those areas fill up, you can always park along the streets… just don’t block anyone’s driveway!
the sanctuary itself was a bit on the smaller side, but perhaps that is b/​c this was a sold out choral concert and attendees filled up every single pew on the main floor and upstairs! the pews themselves were not the most comfortable, esp since i was sitting down for nearly 2 hours! i ended up rolling my coat up and putting it behind my lower back for a more comfortable experience (since there was also no coat check or any place to hang my coat). it also felt a bit crowded, since we had to sit 7 – 8 people per row in order to accommodate all ticket holders.
despite the tight quarters, the concert was beautiful, and this venue projects the sound really well with its high ceilings and acoustic setup. i loved every piece that was performed, esp the final song when some members went to the upstairs seating area and combined voices with those who remained downstairs… definitely a beautiful sound!
the restrooms are actually located outside of the main building, which was a bit odd for a church, i thought, but they had separate men’s and women’s restrooms which were clean and well-​stocked. there was also a parish hall where we went at the conclusion of the concert for a post-​concert reception. this was actually a nice, spacious area for some chairs, and food & drink… perfect for mingling and chatting with the choral members.
overall, a nice venue for a concert or performance, but be prepared for tight seating arrangements especially if the show is sold out!

St. Mark’s is a wonderful Church. Prior to relocating to Southern California, my husband and I were members of St. Mark’s for five years.
The leadership is terrific. We always felt accepted from day one. The church members and leaders have equally created a sense of unity and uniqueness which is SO hard to replace.
The music leadership is also amazing. Rebecca Maggi is a fantastic musical Director, and she has the most outstanding/​incredible Soprano voice. She brings tears to my eyes every time I hear her sing.
St. Mark’s is accepting of all people and all faiths. Everyone is welcome. It’s a really nice feeling to know God meets us where we are, and that building a relationship with God is what matters most.
If you are seeking a fun welcoming community, solid leadership, and a sense of belonging, you will find it at St. Mark’s.

St. Mark’s is a wonderful, inclusive spiritual oasis and supportive community. The Sunday services are beautiful, truly inspiring and help to connect us all in our spiritual journeys and desire to be closer to Christ. The programs for children and teens are outstanding and offer an ideal setting to nurture spiritual development. I feel so blessed that my family has an extended family at St. Mark’s!

This is a great church for families of all types. There is a wonderful children’s program, where kids are encouraged to wonder and explore their faith. There are adult book forums, meditation groups, and more. There are small groups to fit anyone’s interest. it is an inclusive, welcoming community. My family has been very happy at St. Mark’s.

If you are looking for a spiritual home that welcomes all, is actively inclusive, has a variety of programs for adults, teens, and children, and has wonderful music to boot — this is it! We’ve been attending for 12 years (despite moving to San Mateo 11 years ago) and have been spiritually fed, emotionally nurtured, and supported in our faith journey.

This is a vibrant faith community that is open to all people who search to deepen their connection with God and each other. It has a wide variety of programs for all ages and I find the eucharist there to be soulful and powerful — there is something about getting out of the pews and gathering around a table to share a sacred meal that gets me every time.