The Very Reverend Francis Robert Lee

The Very Reverend Francis Robert Lee came from Saint Paul's Church, Chillicothe, Ohio, in November, 1926, and served as Rector and Dean of Saint Mark's Pro-Cathedral until the tragically sudden collapse of his health early in 1940, followed by his death within that year. The memory of Dean Lee is inseparably linked with the building of Saint Mark's Church and no review of the history of this accomplishment would be complete without adequate recognition of the inspired devotion of this well beloved character. That account can be found at the page devoted to Raising a Cathedral. It is memorable that on the occasion of his initial visit to Hastings, Dean Lee stood in the crypt together with George R. Dutton, then chairman of the building committee, and A. W. Borden, and in the falling shadows of a November evening, listed to the story. At its conclusion he turned to us and said, "This church shall be built." Without further words, they knew that he had accepted the challenge and would return to assume the charge.

At such dark moments he repeatedly gave voice to an expression of confidence born of his unshakeable Faith, which was, "The way will be opened, the means will somehow be found."

Born in Virginia, the scion of a family whose name is illustrious in American history, his nature revealed that charming combination of spirit and gentility traditionally associated with one's concept of a southerner of gentle origin. Politically, he was a staunch Democrat of pronounced Jeffersonian principle. Socially, he was the sort of rare person whose friends and well wishers were legion. The warmth of his human understanding was immediately communicated to all with whom he came in contact, irrespective of race, class, or creed. He was truly a friend to all men in all walks of life, and his tragic removal from this community will long be mourned by hundreds of people outside the realm of his own particular mission as Dean and Rector of Saint Mark's.

Occupied as he was with the paramount task connected with his calling, he was never too busy to permit himself genuine concern in behalf of others, not to give freely of his time and energy to the general interests of his community. Among such activities he was for several years Chairman of the local Red Cross Chapter, President of the Library Board, and Chaplain of the American Legion, also prominently identified with Fraternal and civic organization work.

While it was not ordained that Francis Lee should survive to witness the official consecration free from debt, of Saint Mark's Church, every stone and member of the structure bears indelible impress of his devotion to that end, and to those who knew him and worked with him, it shall be as though his kindly spirit lingers on as a lasting benediction within the quiet shadows of this place he loved so well.

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