St Mark's Church, Leicester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Church, Leicester |
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| 52°38′34″N 1°07′42.4″W / 52.64278°N 1.128444°W | |
| Location | Leicester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mark |
| Consecrated | 25 April 1872 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Ewan Christian |
| Groundbreaking | 1870 |
| Completed | 1872 |
| Closed | 1986 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 99.5 feet (30.3 m) |
| Nave width | 31.5 feet (9.6 m) |
| Spire height | 168 feet (51 m) |
St Mark's Church, Leicester is a very old and important building in Leicester, England. It used to be a church for the Church of England. It is so special that it is listed as a Grade II* building. This means it is a really important historic place.
Building History
Building the church started in 1870. The Bishop of Peterborough laid the first stone. A person named William Perry-Herrick gave money for the church. A famous architect named Ewan Christian designed it. Local builders from Leicester, Firn and Osbourne, constructed the church. James Nichols was in charge of making sure everything was built correctly.
The church has bells from Taylor of Loughborough. It also has a clock from Moore of Clerkenwell, London.
The church was officially opened on April 25, 1872. This day is also known as Saint Mark's Day. The Bishop of Peterborough led the opening ceremony.
Stained Glass Windows
The beautiful stained glass windows in the main part of the church were made by Ward and Hughes. These were put in when the church first opened. Later, more windows were added. Henry Holiday created windows in the south-east chapel in 1893. Charles Eamer Kempe designed windows in the north-east chapel in 1895.
The front part of the church, called the west end, was finished in 1903. This work was done by Ernest Charles Shearman.
A large painting was in the curved part of the church (the apse). It was painted by James Eadie Reid in 1910. The painting was called "The Triumph and Apotheosis of Labour."
What Happened Next
St Mark's Church stopped being a regular church in 1986. It stayed empty for a while. Then, in 2005, it was changed into a place for events. It is now known as The Empire Banqueting Hall. People use it for conferences and weddings.
Church Organ
The church has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1871 by William Hill & Sons. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
