Built in 1799 on the site of a 1600 Dutch chapel on Peter Stuyvesant's farm or bouwerie. St. Mark's is an Episcopalian church that was once part of Trinity Church. In 1799, Alexander Hamilton and Richard Harrison succeeded in establishing a separate Episcopalian parish, separate from Trinity, which was supposed to be the only parish in the city. A fire nearly destroyed the building in 1978 and a restoration project included a new interior and windows similar to the originals. Peter Stuyvesant is buried in the church's vault.
In 1828, architect Ithiel Town added a Greek Revival steeple to give the church an urban image. The Greek Revival style was inspired by the democratic ideals of ancient Greece and became a popular style for churches, banks, courthouses and other public buildings from 1820 to 1860. The most identifiable features are columns with rectangular transoms.