Who We Are
St. Mark's is a welcoming and inclusive church community, founded in the Episcopal tradition with a long history in the state of Utah. Below you will find information to learn more about our history, the Episcopal Church, and our current clergy, staff and vestry.
Mission & Vision | The Episcopal Church | History | Clergy & Staff | Vestry
Mission & Vision
As the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, we believe in extending the love of God to all. In fact, that’s what we’re trying to become: the shape God’s love takes in the world.
We believe that “God shows no partiality” (Romans 2:11), and strive to be an open and inclusive church community that reaches out to the last, the least, and the lost. We’re following Jesus into a loving, liberating, and life-giving relationship with God, each other, and the Earth. At St. Mark’s we chase after Jesus through weekly spiritual formation, beautiful worship that gives glory to the Almighty, and serving neighbors throughout our city.
The Episcopal Church
St. Mark’s is a parish and cathedral of the Episcopal Church, a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Anglican Communion is a global family of churches descended from the Church of England and numbering more than 85 million people. As liturgical and sacramental Christians, Episcopalians trace our beliefs and practices back to Jesus Christ and his apostles, making us part of the “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” (BCP 359). We believe in God’s saving power to transform our lives, cultures, and world, and strive to embody Christ’s radical hospitality in our welcome of both stranger and friend. God makes no distinctions, so neither do we; the sacraments, life, and worship of the Episcopal Church are open to all, regardless of gender, sexuality, or any other human division.
HISTORY
The Episcopal Church played an outsized role in the frontier heritage of the Intermountain West, and Salt Lake City was a focal point for the church's role in the area's pioneer history. St. Mark's was the first permanent Protestant church to be established in the Salt Lake Valley. Daniel S. Tuttle, a native of New York state, was elected by the Episcopal Church to be missionary bishop to the new territory of Montana with jurisdiction in areas that later became the states of Utah and Idaho. He arrived in Salt Lake City July 2, 1867 and began to build a congregation...
CLergy & Staff
THE VERY REV. TYLER B. DOHERTY, DEAN & RECTOR
The Very Reverend Tyler Doherty currently serves as Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Mark. Prior to being installed as Dean of the Cathedral by Bishop Scott Hayashi, Fr. Tyler served as Priest-in-Charge, Assistant Priest, and Canon Precentor. Fr. Tyler is a native of Toronto, Canada. He holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (poetry and poetics) from Naropa University, as well as a Masters of Education in Secondary English from Arcadia University. Fr. Tyler is a graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary (where he served as Sacristan) with a Masters in Divinity in December 2014. He was ordained a deacon at the Cathedral in Philadelphia in January 2015 by Bishop Clifton Daniel and ordained to the priesthood in June 2015 by Bishop Scott Hayashi.
Prior to the priesthood, Fr. Tyler taught English Literature, Creative Writing, and Composition at Arcadia University in Philadelphia, PA where he also served as Director of the Writing Center. During his time in Philadelphia Fr. Tyler also co-founded and served as Artistic Director for the Qui Vive! Center for Writing, Book Arts, and Performance, a non-profit outreach dedicated to teaching poetry-in-the-schools to middle and high school youth.
He is married to Michelle, a bilingual school social worker, with whom he has three (mostly) lovely daughters--Madeleine, Isabelle, and Clare. A published poet and avid reader, Fr. Tyler also enjoys hiking, birding, and whacking golf balls at the driving range.
As a Benedictine oblate, Fr. Tyler has a deep interest in life-long and life-wide spiritual formation and especially contemplative practices that help us follow Christ more closely in the midst of daily life. Other “churchy” interests include liturgy, systematic and ascetical theology, and the Desert Fathers and Mothers.
Contact Fr. Tyler at tyler@stmarksutah.org.
The Rev. HOLLY HUFF, Associate Priest
The Reverend Holly Huff serves as a Priest at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark. She is a native Utahn who has spent years on the East Coast. Before pursuing theological education, she completed an undergraduate degree in sociology and women’s studies. Holly graduated from Yale Divinity School with a Master of Divinity in 2019. While at YDS she also earned a Diploma of Anglican Studies from Berkeley Divinity School, the affiliated Episcopal seminary. She received the school’s 2019 Frederick Buechner Prize in creative nonfiction writing. Holly has worked as a hospital chaplain, most recently as a Resident Chaplain at St. Mark’s Hospital.
Holly enjoys singing, doing puzzles, and getting out in the mountains with her dog, Macrina.
Contact Mtr. Holly at holly@stmarksutah.org.
Carrie Glenn, Parish Administrator
Carrie is a native New Mexican who recently moved to Utah. She has enjoyed working in the nonprofit sector both in ministry and secular work. Carrie has a background in Youth and Young Adult Ministry on both the Parish and Diocesan level. She has also worked and volunteered in the Court Advocacy system for Children and Youth. She has spent time working with families in a variety of ways ranging from foster care, reunification, home visitation, etc. Carrie has a heart and passion for social justice and advocacy.
As Parish administrator Carrie helps to oversee the daily operations of the Cathedral under the supervision of the Dean. She also helps with Cathedral communications, facilities management, general finances and other miscellaneous administrative duties.
Contact Carrie at carrie@stmarksutah.org.
Chris Wootton, Director of Music
Chris serves as our director of music at St. Marks — overseeing the musical selections in our services, working with musicians and guest soloists, planning Evensong and other concerts throughout the year, directing the St. Mark’s Choir, and, of course playing the organ on Sundays. If you are interested in learning more about music at St. Mark’s or would like to join the choir feel free to email Chris at the address below!
Contact Chris at chris@stmarksutah.org.
Emily Spencer, Children’s Choir Director
Emily Spencer directs the children’s choir at St. Marks. As a performer, scholar and educator, Emily’s contribution to sacred music in the United States and Europe spans over twenty years in organ and vocal performance. During her thirty years as a music educator in Utah, she has engaged learners at every age and skill level, from early childhood to graduate students.
She also currently serves as Sub-Dean for the Salt Lake Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, is a member of the editorial committee for the Bulletin, the journal of the International Kodály Society, and is a member of the Board of Governors of the Utah Cultural Alliance Foundation.
Alexandra Bishop, Godly Play Coordinator
Alexandra comes to us from Berkeley, CA where she recently graduated with a Masters Degree in Theology from the Jesuit School of Theolgogy / Graduate Theology Union. Her background is primarily in Ethics and the Legal tradition of the Church, but her favorite faith questions to ask are about the role of feminism and the way we should imagine the development of Tradition.
She grew up in Lousiana, mostly in New Orleans, and is the oldest of five kids. She loves bookclubs, craft time (ask her about her many unfinished sewing endeavors), and being in the sunshine.
You can reach Alexandra at godlyplay@stmarksutah.org.
Sofia Dunstan, Digital Missioner
Sofia is an undergraduate student at the University of Utah studying Political Science and French. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, thrifting, and exploring Salt Lake City. She also co-hosts two podcasts- one on public transportation and urban development, and the other on the intersection between Star Wars and politics. For inquiries related to communications or to submit an item to the weekly newsletter, please contact Sofia at communications@stmarksutah.org.
Cibell Morales-Browne, Hildegarde’s Pantry Manager
Contact Cibell at hildegardes@stmarksutah.org
Kurt Cook, Historiographer
Contact Kurt at archives@stmarksutah.org
Andrew Pizzello, Bookkeeper
Contact Andrew at andrew@stmarksutah.org
CATHEDRAL CANONS
The Reverend Canon Libby Hunter, Deacon
The Reverend Canon Caryl Marsh
The Reverend Canon LeRoy Carter
Canon Judy Atherton, Canon for Mental Health
Canon George W. Henry, Canon for Music
The Reverend Canon Michael Milligan
DEANS EMERITI
The Late Very Reverend Jack C Potter, Dean Emeritus
The Very Reverend Rick Q. Lawson, Dean Emeritus
The Very Reverend Raymond J. Waldon, Dean Emeritus
Vestry
In the Episcopal tradition, the “Vestry” is what other churches might call a “church board.” It’s the leadership body responsible for the parish. The St. Mark’s vestry meets each month to review and approve normal monthly operational expenses of the church, receive reports from various committees, and attend to any other ongoing projects or concerns within the parish. Current vestry members include:
Bob Lloyd (Senior Warden)
Bill Downes (Junior Warden)
Evelyn Lamb (Treasurer)
Camille Biexei
Kelly Brown
Ernie Hale
Heidi Hatch
Marti Jones
Brandon Kirkland
Michael Riding
Mike Rasmussen
Madi Rooker