St Mark's Church, Surbiton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mark's
St Mark's Church, Surbiton
Surbiton's parish church of Saint Mark
51°23′43″N 0°18′02″W / 51.3952°N 0.3005°W / 51.3952; -0.3005
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
Architecture
Style	Gothic
Years built	1845
Administration
Parish	Surbiton
Deanery	Kingston
Archdeaconry	Wandsworth
Diocese	Southwark

St Mark's Church, Surbiton is a special church in Surbiton, London. It's one of two main Church of England churches in the area, the other being St Andrew's. This church is named after Saint Mark. You can find it near the top of St Mark's Hill.

History of St Mark's Church

Early Days and Growth

St Mark's is the oldest church in Surbiton. It was first built in 1845. Over the years, especially in the 1800s, the church got bigger. A tall, pointed roof called a spire was added towards the end of that century.

World War II Damage

The church was badly damaged during World War II. This happened in 1940 during the London Blitz. The Blitz was a time when many bombs were dropped on London. The church's spire stayed standing, but its roof and a big part of the front (called the chancel) were destroyed. Even the graves in the churchyard were scattered.

Rebuilding and Reopening

After the bombing, the church was closed for 20 years. It finally reopened in 1960 after a lot of repair work. While it was closed, people used a temporary church hall for worship. This hall had a tin roof.

In September 2010, the church closed again for more repairs. During this time, the church members worshipped at St Andrew's Church. St Mark's opened its doors once more on June 24, 2012. During these repairs, a new hall was built. Also, the old wooden pews were replaced with new seats.

The church also has two special books of remembrance. These books were written by a skilled writer called calligrapher, Mildred Ratcliffe.

Exploring the Church Building

Inside the Church

St Mark's Church has a bright and open inside. It has a traditional layout with a main area called the nave. There is also a special area at the front called the chancel. You can also find a Lady chapel, which is a smaller chapel. The church faces the traditional way, with the main altar at the east end. You enter the church through the south porch and door.

Surviving Parts and Repairs

The tower, spire, and the north wall were the only parts of the original church that survived the bombing. The tower has been repaired since then. These parts are the only places where you can still see the work of the old Victorian builders and stone carvers. Most of the gravestones in the churchyard have been moved. They were broken and damaged. However, some interesting monuments still remain.

Gallery

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  St Mark's Church

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  Stained glass by W T Carter Shapland (1960)

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  Inside the church