St Mark's Church, Royal Tunbridge Wells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mark's Church |
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| Church of St. Mark | |
St. Mark's Church
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| 51°06′57″N 0°15′06″E / 51.11571°N 0.25170°E | |
| OS grid reference | TQ5770037568 |
| Location | Royal Tunbridge Wells |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| 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 | 1864 |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 130 ft (40 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Broadwater Down |
| Deanery | Tunbridge Wells |
| Diocese | Rochester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Mark's Church is a beautiful old church in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. It serves the Broadwater Down area as a Church of England parish church. The church was built in the 1800s in a style called Gothic Revival. It was designed by an architect named Robert Lewis Roumieu. Today, it is a very important historical building, recognized with a Grade II* listed building status.
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History of St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church was built because of a special decision by William Nevill, 4th Earl of Abergavenny. He owned a lot of land and was building many large houses there. However, he decided to build a church and a house for the church's priest instead. He paid for the church himself.
The architect, Robert Lewis Roumieu, designed the church. Construction started in 1864. The Earl's wife, the Countess of Abergavenny, helped lay the first stone. The church was finished and officially opened in 1866. A year later, in 1867, it became its own church area, or "parish."
Church Design and Features
The church's design is based on the French Gothic style, which was popular in the late 1800s. The builders used stone from the Earl of Abergavenny's own quarries. They also used a special kind of stone called Bath stone for the detailed carvings.
The church has a tall, pointed tower called a spire. This spire reaches 130 feet (about 40 meters) into the sky. Inside the church, you can see a font and a pulpit made from Caen stone. A font is a basin used for baptisms, and a pulpit is where the priest gives sermons.
The beautiful stained glass windows in the church were added to remember the Earl after he passed away. These windows show important figures from the Bible, like the four major prophets and the Four Evangelists. The architect, Roumieu, had a lot of freedom when designing the church. One newspaper, Building News, even called his design "acrobatic gothic" because it was so unique and lively.
Bells and Chimes
The church's clock tower holds a set of chimes and bells. People donated money to pay for these bells. They were installed to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1898. The chimes were stopped for repairs in 2005. They were supposed to start again in 2012, but there were some concerns from people living nearby.
How the Church is Used Today
St. Mark's Church is still an active church today. It holds regular Sunday services for its community. The church is also used for other events, like concerts that help raise money for good causes. In 2009, the church was even the location for the wedding of Rebekah Gibbs, an actress from the TV show Casualty.
See also
