On January 26, 2008 at a festive service in the Cathedral of Saint Luke and Saint Paul in Charleston, Mark Joseph Lawrence was consecrated the 14th Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. “We thank you and Allison for your strength and perseverance,” said Alden Hathaway, retired Bishop of Pittsburgh and preacher for the service. “You inspire us and give us hope.”

Father Lawrence was born in Bakersfield, California, on March 19, 1950. He was educated at California State University, Bakersfield (BA, 1976) and Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry (M. Div. 1980). He has ministered at Church of the Holy Family, Fresno, California (1980), Saint Mark’s, Shafter, California (1981-1984), Saint Stephen’s, McKeesport, Pennsylvania (1984-1997), and Saint Paul’s, Bakersfield, California (1997-2007). Known for being a dedicated pastor-teacher, Mark also served, among many other capacities, as a member of the Commission on Ministry, the Standing Committee, and the Board of Examining Chaplains, the latter of which he chaired. He also served as a deputy to the General Conventions of 2003 and 2006.

Mark has been married to Allison Kathleen Taylor since 1973. They have five children: Chadwick (33), married to Wendy; they have three children, Esther, Sarah, and Sydney; Adelia (30), married to Stephen Matson; they have three children, Natalie, Tobias and Macy; Emily (24), married to Jacob Jefferis; Joseph (23), married to Joette, who is expecting her first child this summer, and Chelsea (19).

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January 4, Holy Communion, Charleston, Lawrence

January 11, Epiphany, Eutawville, Hathaway
January 11, Cathedral, Charleston, Buchanan
January 11, Christ St. Paul’s, Yonges Island, Lawrence

January 18, St. Bartholomew’s, Hartsville, Lawrence

January 25, St. Alban’s, Kingstree, Lawrence
January 25, St Stephen’s, St. Stephen's, 8:45 a.m., Lawrence

February 1, Holy Cross, Faith Memorial, Lawrence

February 8, Redeemer, Orangeburg, Lawrence

February 15, Calvary, Charleston, a.m., Lawrence
February 15, St. Mary’s, Goose Creek p.m., Lawrence

February 22, Our Saviour, Johns Island, Lawrence

March 1, St. Matthew’s, Darlington, a.m., Lawrence
March 1, Redeemer, Pineville, p.m., Lawrence

March 8, Good Shepherd, Charleston, Lawrence

March 15, House of Bishops

March 22, St. Helena’s, Beaufort, Lawrence

March 29, Trinity, Edisto, Lawrence

April 5, Palm Sunday, St. Philip’s, Charleston, Lawrence

April 12, Easter, The Cathedral, Charleston, Lawrence

April 19, Brick Church, Santee, a.m., Lawrence
April 19, St. Augustine, Sumter, p.m., Lawrence

April 26, St. Paul’s Summerville, a.m., Lawrence
April 26, Holy Apostles, Barnwell, p.m., Lawrence

May 3, Christ Church, Mt. Pleasant, Lawrence

May 10, Grace Church, Charleston, Lawrence

May 17, St. John’s, John's Island, Lawrence

May 24, St. Luke’s, Hilton Head, Lawrence
May 24, St. Jude’s, Walterboro, Hathaway

May 31, St. Michael’s, Charleston, Lawrence

June 7, Christ Church, Florence, a.m., Lawrence
June 7, Good Shepherd, Sumter, p.m., Lawrence

June 14, All Saints, Waccamaw, Lawrence

June 21, Trinity, Myrtle Beach, a.m., Lawrence
June 21, St. Barnabas, Dillon, p.m., Lawrence

June 28, St. Stephen’s, Charleston, Lawrence

July 5, St. George, Summerville, Lawrence
July 5, Epiphany, Summerville 8 a.m., Lawrence

July 12-19, General Convention

July 26-August 16, Vacation

August 23, St. Matthew’s, Ft. Motte, Lawrence

August 30, St. Matthias, Summerton, a.m., Lawrence
August 30, Christ Church, Denmark, p.m., Lawrence

September 6, St. Mark’s Charleston, Lawrence

September 13, St. Stephen’s, North Myrtle Beach, Lawrence

September 20, St. David’s, Cheraw, Lawrence
September 20, St. Paul’s, Bennettsville, Lawrence

September 27, St. James, Charleston, a.m., Lawrence
September 27, Iglesia San Juan, p.m., Lawrence

October 4, Holy Comforter, Sumter, a.m., Lawrence
October 4, St. Paul’s, Orangeburg, p.m., Lawrence

October 11, St. Paul’s, Conway, Lawrence

October 18, The Cross, Bluffton, a.m., Lawrence
October 18, All Saints, Hampton, p.m., Lawrence

October 25, St. John’s, Florence, a.m., Lawrence
October 25, Advent, Marion, p.m., Lawrence

November 1, All Saints, Hilton Head, Lawrence
November 1, Trinity, Grahamville, Lawrence

November 8, Holy Cross, Stateburg, Skilton
November 8, Resurrection, Surfside Beach, Lawrence

November 15, Trinity, Pinopolis, Lawrence

November 22, Old St. Andrew’s, Charleston, Lawrence
November 22, St. Andrew’s Mission, Charleston, Lawrence

November 29, Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island, Lawrence

December 6, Prince George, Winyah, Lawrence

December 13, Holy Trinity, Charleston, Lawrence

December 20, St. Thomas, North Charleston, Lawrence

December 27, All Saints, Florence, Lawrence