About Us
Welcome
Is St. Mark’s a place for you? We don’t claim to have all of the answers, but together—and with God’s help—we try to offer the space to live into the questions. Questions about doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God. Questions about how to welcome everyone to God’s table—and to all the rites that the church offers. Is St. Mark’s the place for you? Only you can answer that. We invite you to bring your questions and come and see.
Our Clergy
Rev. Dr. Delaney Schlake-Kruse (she/Her)
Delaney+ is passionate about relational ministry, preaching, thinking theologically, and helping to connect the church with its neighborhood. Here at St. Mark's, she works to shepherd the community and facilitate connections within and beyond the parish.
Delaney+ is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Columbus, OH), and received her Doctor of Ministry from United Lutheran Seminary (Philadelphia, PA). Delaney+ serves St. Mark's as part of the Called to Common Mission agreement; she is rostered as an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
When she’s not in the office, Delaney+ enjoys gardening, drinking coffee, and spending time with friends and family. The Schlake-Kruse family includes Delaney, her spouse Matt their son Milo, and a second child arriving in October 2026.
The Rev. Jerre Birdsong has served as deacon at St. Mark’s since his ordination by Bishop George Wayne Smith in November 2014. He previously served as candidate for the diaconate at Trinity Church in the Central West End and postulant at Emmanuel Church in Webster Groves after graduating from the Episcopal School for Ministry in 2004. Following his retirement from Ameren Corp., I received a graduate certificate in Non-profit Management and Leadership from UMSL with an internship at BJC Hospice.
Jerre's ministry focus is immigration through the Interfaith Committee on Latin America and social services through Isaiah 58 Ministries. He has spent many years on non-profit boards addressing low-income housing, children’s advocacy, hunger ministry, and the YMCA of Greater St. Louis.
Jerre continues to be inspired for outreach ministry by his wife Gayle who died in 2010. He has two adult daughters in the St. Louis area and two grandchildren who call him by the coolest grandpa name ever – Big Dude.
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Rev. Jerre Birdsong, deacon (He/Him)
Our Support Staff
Dr. Raedeke is a faculty member at Washington University and holds a Bachelor of Music degree in church music from Valparaiso University, and a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music. She performs widely and has served churches in St. Louis, New York, and Connecticut. A member of St. Mark’s, she served on the committee that oversaw the selection and installation of the church’s Juget-Sinclair organ.
Organist & Choir Director,
Dr. Barbara Raedeke (She/Her)
Celeste has cared for the children at St. Mark’s for over 50 years. She began as a nursery care worker, then was asked to teach the Sunday school program “Living the Good News”. In 1996, the “Godly Play” curriculum was introduced, and continues for children three through seven years old. Celeste made all of the “Godly Play” materials, including over 100 wooden figures and other story pieces. Every year, she presents a new theme for the summer classes.
She also works with the children in the community garden, the Garden of Eatin’, located on the church property. The garden provides a great outdoor classroom for presenting many Bible lessons. In addition to enjoying the work of youth Christian formation, Celeste is happy to be teaching some of the children of parents who attended her class when they were children. She enjoys photography and working on her classic car.
Youth Christian Formation
Celeste Kocot (She/Her)
Parish Administrator
Melissa Engle (she/Her)
Melissa was born and raised in south St. Louis. A devoted St. Louis Cardinal's fan, Melissa also enjoys spending her free time with her two daughters. She received a B.A. in Psychology from UMSL. Melissa became the parish administrator in December of 2020. She has previous experience as an administrative assistant as well as customer service.
Frankie Danieley serves as nursery attendant at St. Mark’s. They provide care and nurture with young children in the nursery on Sunday mornings. Frankie is a high school student with fabulous artistic talent, both as a visual artist and performer. Having completed training through St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Safe Church Training with the Diocese of Missouri, Frankie is an outstanding member of the support staff here at St. Mark’s!
Nursery Attendant
Frankie Danieley (They/Them)
Our Campus
Historic Architecture and Stained Glass
In 1937, +Bishop Scarlett of the Diocese of Missouri appointed Charles Nagel and Frederick Dunn as architects for a new building on a triangle of land he purchased on Clifton Avenue. St. Mark’s was dedicated in January 1939, featuring unique stained glass windows created by the designer Robert Harmon at the Emil Frei Studios. The designer drew on early Christian symbols to express the new Liberal Catholic ideals that +Bishop Scarlett championed. The resulting windows illuminated the challenges faced by the church in the 1930s when the country was left cynical after the Great War, reeling through a never-ending depression, and confused by disturbing totalitarian movements in Europe.
