St Mark's Church, Blackpool facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Church, Layton, Blackpool |
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 St Mark's Church, Layton, Blackpool
Location in Blackpool
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| 53°49′51.96″N 3°1′51.74″W / 53.8311000°N 3.0310389°W | |
| Location | Blackpool |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mark |
| Consecrated | 27 September 1927 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | E.E. Dennis |
| Groundbreaking | 1925 |
| Completed | 1927 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mark's Layton and St Luke's Staining |
| Deanery | Blackpool |
| Archdeaconry | Lancaster |
| Diocese | Diocese of Blackburn |
The Parish Church of St. Mark is located in Layton, Lancashire, England. It was built in 1927 and is home to a Church of England Christian community. Even though St. Mark's is a fairly new church, it has strong ties to local history. Layton Village itself was mentioned way back in the Norman Era, which was from 1066 to 1154 AD.
Building St. Mark's Church
The church was designed by Rev. E.T. Williams and architect Mr. E.E. Dennis. They wanted the church to have the strong, classic look of Norman Architecture. Building work started in 1925. The church was made using red brick from Rainhill Sandstone. This is the same type of stone used to build the famous Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.
The builders, J.R. Fielding & Sons, had help from skilled craftsmen. Mr. Tom Roberts was the master stonemason, and Mr. J.R. Bell was the wood-carver. The church was finished in 1927. On September 27, 1927, the new Bishop of Blackburn, Dr. Percy Herbert, officially opened and blessed the Church of St. Mark, Layton. Tom Roberts worked with a huge amount of stone, and you can see his carvings, especially in the Sanctuary area. J.R. Bell's beautiful wood carvings are also a key part of the church's design.
The Church Organ
St. Mark's Church has a special pipe organ built by Ernest Walklet. It cost £430 when it was installed. The organ was first played on March 29, 1934, by Frank Rawes from Poulton Parish Church. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
The Church Community
In Layton, St. Mark's is often called "The Church on The Hill." It is an Anglican church that aims to be true to God in its teachings, spirit, service, and daily life. As a Christian community, it serves the areas of Layton, Grange Park, and Little Carleton. The church welcomes everyone to find new life through faith in Jesus Christ.
St. Mark's has a clear goal: to be a growing community for all ages that focuses on Christ. This means:
- Growing Closer to God: They aim to do this through worship and learning from the Bible.
- Growing Together: They want to be a united group, with people caring for each other in smaller groups.
- Reaching Out: They want to share the love of Christ with their local community and beyond, through helping others and sharing their faith.
St. Mark's Church is part of the Church of England's Diocese of Blackburn. It also works closely with other churches in two main groups:
- The 5ACT Group: This group includes five Anglican churches in Blackpool. They work together to support each other and share their mission. These churches are St. Mark's, St. Thomas', St. John's, St. Luke's, and Christ Church With All Saints. St. Mark's also partners with St. Luke's Church of England in Staining for joint services and to share a Vicar.
- Churches Together (Layton): This group brings together the main Christian churches in the area. It includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, and United Reformed churches.
