Keeping with tradition, while embracing modernity

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Islip has sat on Montauk Highway, just across from the start of Route 111, since the 1800s, and has long been a fixture in the community. The church’s stunning Tudor architecture makes the building a charming landmark for members of the congregation and Islip residents alike.

On Friday and Saturday, Aug. 23 and 24, a beautiful new feature was brought to St. Mark’s: a reduced carbon footprint.

The Episcopal Church is organized much like the Roman Catholic Church, with a Bishop that oversees the Diocese. In 2023, Bishop Provenzano and the Creation Care Community of the Diocese of Long Island (CCCDLI)—a team of individuals committed to finding ways, as Christians, to address environmental degradation and climate change—challenged parishes to consider the installation of solar panels for “green” electricity generation.

To achieve this mission, the CCCDLI teamed up with the PowerUp Solar initiative, organized by the Long Island Progressive Coalition and Resonant Energy. The initiative encourages nonprofits and religious institutions to consider installing solar panels at an affordable price. Through multiple cost-saving strategies, including bulk buying, leveraging tax incentives, and low-cost loan options, nonprofits can go solar for 20 to 40 percent below market rate.

“As Christians, we understand that God has entrusted us with the care of Creation. We are called to do all we can to protect this fragile earth and the people who live on it,” explained Rev. Lilo Carr Rivera, chair of Emission Reduction of CCCDLI. “The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island is committed to the pursuit of the elimination of fossil fuels and to the accessibility of solar energy to all interested congregations. St. Mark’s is taking the concrete steps needed to combat climate change and be effective stewards of God’s creation.”

By pooling demand alongside other houses of worship, St. Mark’s Church was able to install 87 solar panels from SUNation Energy along the southside of the St. Mark’s administration wing, which receives the most sunlight. The vestry at St. Mark’s chose to forego solar panel installation on the historic church building itself, which was built in the 1880s, in favor of lower costs. 

“We are looking to have about 63 percent of our electricity to be generated by these 87 solar panels, to save us about $8,000 a year in electricity costs,” shared Fr. Edwin Beckham, priest of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. “We will have a much lower reliance on burning fossil fuels, which we are pumped about.”

On Sunday, Sept. 8, following a regularly scheduled 9:15 a.m. worship, the congregation will enjoy an outdoor picnic, and Fr. Edwin will bless the solar panels. All are welcome to attend.

Additionally, Fr. Edwin’s sermons over the next few weeks will focus on taking care of God’s creation, the environment, and environmental sustainability.

“We are hoping that this will be an encouragement, both to our neighbors here, the residents of the Islip community, and to other churches, temples, synagogues, and mosques,” encouraged Fr. Edwin. “We are hoping they will see that if we were able to do it and reap the benefits, they can, too.”