St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church |
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| 51°29′50″N 0°11′40″W / 51.49722°N 0.19444°W | |
| Location | Kensington, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Church |
| Website | stmark.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mark |
| Dedicated | 1863 (as Presbyterian church); 1979 (as Coptic Orthodox church) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Victorian Gothic |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London |
St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church is a special church in Kensington, London. You can find it at the corner of Allen Street and Scarsdale Villas. This church is named after Mark the Evangelist, who helped start the Christian church in Alexandria, Egypt.
It's important not to mix it up with another church called St Mark's in Kennington, London. This building was once known as St John's Presbyterian Church. It first opened its doors in 1863.
In 1975, the Coptic Orthodox Church bought the building. St Mark's became the very first Coptic Orthodox church in all of Europe! It was a starting point for the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland. At first, three special priests, called hieromonks, served there. They later became important leaders in the Coptic Church. Today, church services are held in both English and Arabic.
The outside of the church looks much the same as it did when it was built in 1862–1863. It has a style called Victorian Gothic. But the inside has changed a lot over the years. It was updated in the 1800s and again in the 1900s when it became a Coptic church. When it changed, it was the first church outside Egypt to show special Coptic art, called Neo-Coptic iconography.
Contents
The Church's Story
Building the Church (1862–1863)
The idea for this church building came from a minister in Edinburgh. He suggested that Reverend Gavin Carlyle should come to London to preach. Plans for building the church were approved in July 1862. By December, the church leaders agreed to rent the land for 99 years.
The architect, J. M. McCulloch, and the builders, R. and A. M. Greig, first said it would cost about £3,368. But the final cost went up to £6,000. The church officially opened in May 1863.
As a Scottish Presbyterian Church (1863–1975)
After the church was first built, people noticed some problems inside. It didn't look as good as the outside, and there were practical issues. One visitor said the inside felt "depressing." The ceiling was heavy, the walls were plain, and the pews (church benches) were simple. There was even a space for an organ that didn't have one!
To fix these problems, changes began soon after. In 1866–1867, experts were asked for advice on how the sound traveled in the church. An architect named J. Theodore Barker made many changes between 1876 and 1882. They added an arch, and galleries were put in to make more seating. This increased the number of seats from 500 to 750.
Finally, an organ was added, and the old pulpit (where the preacher stands) was replaced. The heating system and the stained glass windows were also updated during this time.
The last service for the Presbyterian church was in October 1975. The people who went to that church then joined another church nearby.
Becoming a Coptic Orthodox Church (1975–Present)
In 1975, St John's church building was sold to the Coptic Orthodox Church. Since then, it has been home to the St Mark's congregation. In 1979, the head of the Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, officially blessed the church. This made it the first Coptic church in Europe.
Church Activities
The church holds a special service called a holy liturgy every morning from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sundays, there are two liturgies: one in Arabic and one in English.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The outside of St Mark's church looks almost the same as it did when it was first built in 1863. It shows off the Victorian Gothic style with its tall windows and pointed arches.
Inside the Church
Special Art (Iconography)
St Mark's was the first church outside of Egypt to display Neo-Coptic iconography. This is a special type of art that tells stories from the Bible and about saints. Inside, you can see two beautiful stained glass windows. There is also a series of icons that tell stories, including a very large one showing the martyrdom of Saint Mark.
See also
- Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland
