| St. Mark's Church | |
|---|---|
| Church of St. Mark | |
 St. Mark's Church | |
  St. Mark's Church St. Mark's Church in Kent | |
| 51°06′52″N 0°15′07″E / 51.114494°N 0.252082°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ5773137434 |
| OS grid reference | TQ5773137434 |
| Location | Royal Tunbridge Wells |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | St. Mark's Church |
| History | |
| Status | parish church |
| Founder(s) | Earl of Abergavenny |
| Dedication | St. Mark |
| Consecrated | 1866 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 7 June, 1996 |
| Architect(s) | Robert Lewis Roumieu |
| Architectural type | Late Gothic Revival |
| Style | French Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1964 |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Deanery | Tunbridge Wells |
| Parish | Broadwater Down |
St. Mark's Church, also listed as the Church of St. Mark, is a 19th century Church of England church. It is the parish church for the Broadwater Down area of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.[1] It is located in the Diocese of Rochester[2] and is a Grade II* listed building.[3]
History
editThe church started construction in 1864 after the placement of the foundation stone by the Countess of Abergavenny. It was designed by architect Robert Lewis Roumieu and was consecrated in 1866.[3] It was built due to personal intervention from William Nevill, 4th Earl of Abergavenny as the building plans for the surrounding streets on the Abergavenny Estate originally planned for more residential streets instead of a church.[4] The church was built using the Earl of Abergavenny's own money.
Design
editThe church is built in the style of Late Gothic Revival architecture using French Gothic style.[5] It was built using stone from the Earl of Abergavveny's own quarries and Bath stone for the carvings. The spire is 130 feet high.[5] Inside, the font and pulpit were made from Caen stone. It's stained glass windows were installed as a memorial to the Earl of Abergavveny when he died and depict the four major prophets and the Four Evangelists.[5] When it was built, Building News referred to the church's design as "acrobatic gothic" due to Roumieu being given freedom to design.[3]
Usage
editThe Church is still used for regular Sunday services[2] but it has also been used to host fund-raising concerts.[6] It was also the venue for former Casualty actress, Rebekah Gibbs' wedding.[7]
References
edit- ^ A Church Near You. "Tunbridge Wells, St. Mark (Broadwater Down)". Church of England. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ a b A Church Near You. "St Mark (Broadwater Down), Tunbridge Wells - Kent - Diocese of Rochester". Church of England. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ a b c "CHURCH OF ST MARK". English Heritage. 1974-06-07. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ "14 Broadwater Down" (Document). Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. November 2000.
{{cite document}}: Unknown parameter|accessdate=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|url=ignored (help) - ^ a b c Thomas, J. Radford (1883). Pelton's Illustrated Guide to Tunbridge Wells. Tunbridge Wells: Richard Pelton. p. 113. ISBN 1279339381.
- ^ "Limelight at last for No 1". This is Kent. 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
- ^ "Beks' wedding belles; PALS JOIN BRAVE CASUALTY STAR ON HER BIG DAY". Daily Mirror (archived by Thefreelibrary.com). Retrieved 2012-07-01.