From Ashes to Hope: A Thank You from St. Marks in Altadena

In 2025, the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, California, destroying homes and consuming the campus of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church. Trinity’s prayers and financial gifts became part of a wider network of support helping that congregation and community begin to recover and rebuild.

A Personal Word of Thanks

We recently received a handwritten note from Saint Mark’s parishioner Mary Ann. She writes:

“My name is Mary Anna. I am a parishioner at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Altadena, California — one of 57 of us who lost our homes in the fire that consumed our church. Thank you so much for your contribution to our Emergency Relief Fund! It means a lot to know there are people like you in congregations like yours who are with us as we recover and rebuild. You are greatly appreciated!”

Her words remind us that our offerings are not abstract numbers, but signs of companionship and hope for real neighbors walking through loss.

What Your Gifts Made Possible

In an accompanying letter and update, The Rev. Carri Patterson Grindon, rector at St. Mark's, describes how the congregation has spent the past year caring for members who lost homes, stabilizing their ministries, and planning for the future of their campus. She shares that gifts from Trinity and many other partners have funded direct grants to families, covered immediate needs for worship and ministry in temporary spaces, and begun to seed the rebuilding of church facilities.

These resources have helped with everything from household essentials and emergency support for parishioners, to vestments and liturgical items, to transforming borrowed and shared spaces into places where Saint Mark’s can gather for worship, meetings, and formation while they wait to return home.

A Community Still Shining with Hope

On the eve of the first anniversary of the fire, the people of Saint Mark’s gathered by candlelight on their damaged campus to pray and remember. Standing together on that holy ground, they also gave thanks for the many congregations and friends—Trinity among them—who have carried them in prayer and generosity.

Even in the midst of so much loss, Saint Mark’s describes

its community as vibrant and full of life, with worship that is joyful and ministries that continue to grow. Trinity’s generosity has helped make that possible, reminding our siblings in Christ in Altadena that they are not alone, and that the wider Church is walking alongside them as they recover and rebuild.