The Reredos
The dramatic and extraordinary reredos of St. Mark’s is a 42 foot high by 36 foot wide work of art, rising behind the free-standing altar. Designed and executed by sculptor Clark B. Fitz-Gerald, it contains more than 350 sculpted metal figures and objects that dramatize the story of creation and salvation history as envisioned by the Reverend Grant A. Morrill, rector of St. Mark’s at the time of construction. Read his complete description here. The original “key” to the figures is here.
In January 2023, St. Mark’s undertook a complete conservation of the Reredos for the first time in more than a generation. The results were marvelous. Parishioner and writer Gwen North Reiss wrote this article about the project.
You’ll find some of the people, symbols, and animals from the reredos featured throughout the website. Scroll down to see which ones.
Reredos Images Featured on the Website:
7: Sun
8: Earth
9: Ezekiel
16: Acorn
21: Sunflower
24: Tree
39: School of Sardines
30: Bee
54: Giraffe
66: Mice
80: Moses
82: Esther
91: Ruth and Naomi
94: Seven Trumpeters
96: Joel
109: St. Thomas
111: St. Philip & St. Bartholomew
112: Miracle of
Loaves and Fishes
113: Christ Healing Man
with Withered Hand
114: Christ Walking on the Water
119: The Last Supper
120: Gethsemane
124: Crucifixion
127: Holy Baptism
129: Confirmation
133: Holy Matrimony
134: Preaching
138: Dialogue between Faith and Science (Maltese Cross and Atom)
141: Equality of Man
160-163: Gospels (Open Book)
164: St. Jerome (Lion)
170: St. Chrysostom (Bee Hive)
176: St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Ball of Fire)
181: Martin Luther (Rose)
