Church Of St Mark

Church of St Mark

Church built in 1879 with later additions and alterations including 20th century buildings to the north. The architect was George Gilbert Scott junior. The church was erected in memory of Dame Francis Wheeler and was endowed by her brothers Charles Carns-Wilson and Edward S Carns-Wilson.

The building is constructed of red brick with ashlar banding and tracery, with plain tile and lead roofs. It is designed in the Gothic Revival style, specifically Decorated Gothic.

The plan comprises a three-stage west tower, a four-bay nave with clerestory and aisles, single-bay transepts with parish rooms to the north, and a three-bay chancel.

The exterior features a tower with a triple-chamfered plinth and angle buttresses with offsets up to the second stage, then shorter offset buttresses to the third stage, surmounted by pinnacles with finials. The west entrance has a pointed, panelled door with hollow- and roll-moulding to the head and hoodmould. Above this is a tall four-light window with reticulated-type tracery, chamfered sill, and hollow- and roll-moulded surround with hoodmould. The second stage has two-light windows with similar tracery on three sides, and the third stage has two pairs of two-light, straight-headed belfry windows to each side.

The nave has a double-chamfered plinth and offset buttresses between windows. The south entrance to the first bay has a panelled door in a pointed surround with hollow- and roll-moulding, hoodmould, and continuous impost band. The remaining nave windows are three-light, pointed-arched openings with reticulated-type tracery to their heads. The north side has a pointed plank door to the west end and a lancet window. The clerestory has three-light windows with reticulated-type tracery.

The transepts have angle buttresses and similar four-light windows. The parish rooms to the north have two-light, straight-headed windows with Perpendicular-type tracery.

The chancel has buttresses between bays with four-light windows similar to those in the nave—three to the south and two to the north. The east end has a similar six-light window.

The interior features a tall, pointed tower arch with two orders of roll-moulding and quoins. Squared-off lozenge-shaped piers support pointed arches with double hollow-chamfer and roll-moulding. The tall transept arches have similar roll- and hollow-moulding. A wide pointed chancel arch rests on angel corbels and has one order of roll-moulding. A piscina is present.

Notable interior fittings include a carved chancel screen of 1904, a carved reredos with Christ and Apostles dating to 1902 by Plucknett and Company, and Minton tiles to the chancel floor. The font is carved. The nave roof is boarded with a four-centred section on a coving. The transepts have tierceron-vaults and the chancel has a lierne-vault. An organ case, painted and designed by Scott and executed by Hardman and Powell in 1879, is present.

The stained glass in the chancel is by Kempe. Fittings include a screen of 1904 by GF Bodley.

The first designs for the church were made in 1873, but construction of a modified design only began in 1876. The west tower is smaller than originally intended. St Mark's is the principal surviving work of George Gilbert Scott junior.