St Mark's Church, Kennington

Not to be confused with St Mark's Church, Kensington, a Coptic Orthodox church.
St Mark's, Kennington
St Mark's Church, Kennington
Map
Location337 Kennington Park Road, Kennington, London SE11 4PW
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Websitehttp://stmarkskennington.org
History
Founded1824; 201 years ago (1824)
Architecture
Architect(s)David Roper and A. B. Clayton
Years built1824
Administration
DioceseSouthwark
ParishKennington
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev Stephen Coulson

St Mark's Church, Kennington, is an Anglican church on Kennington Park Road in Kennington, London, United Kingdom, near Oval tube station. The church is a Commissioners' church, receiving a grant from the Church Building Commission towards its cost. Authorised by the Church Building Act 1824 (5 Geo 4 Cap CIII), it was built on the site of the old gallows corner on Kennington Common.[1]

The architect was David R. Roper, possibly with A.B. Clayton, and was opened in 1824. The total cost of the church, including the land and other expenses, was £22,720. This was paid partly by the local parishioners and partly by Parliament through a grant known as "The Million Fund".

Clergy

The first incumbent was William Otter (1824–1832), subsequently Bishop of Chichester.[2] His son, William Bruère Otter, subsequently Archdeacon of Lewes, was another early Stipendiary Curate.[3]

A view of the church from the northeast

He was followed by the Rev Charlton Lane (1832–1865),[4] whose son, also the Rev Charlton Lane, would go on to play cricket for Oxford University and Surrey.[5]

1865–1869: The Rev Robert Lloyd.

1869–1879: The Ven Edmund Henry Fisher. Fisher was also Chaplain to Archibald Tait, successively Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury. He died in 1879.[6]

1879–1889: The Rev Henry Montgomery. Montgomery was a clergyman who had been born into an Ulster Scots family in Cawnpore. He later served as Bishop of Tasmania. His son, who was born in Kennington, was Field Marshal The 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.

1889–1897: The Rev Arthur Gerald Bowman.[7]

1897–1947: For 50 years, including WWII, the Vicar was the top-hatted the Rev John Darlington DD, brother-in-law of Bishop Montgomery. Darlington drove a 1904 James & Browne, which has participated in many London to Brighton Car Runs.[8]

1947–1963: The Rev Canon Harold Wallace Bird, who rebuilt the Church after wartime damage. Bird was ordained in Lahore, British India, and was then Chaplain St. Andrew's Church, Lahore 1922–1925; worked for SPG in the Diocese of York 1925–1927; and was then in Australia from 1927.[9]

1964–1971: The Rev Colin John Fraser Scott.[10] Scott was subsequently Bishop of Hulme, 1984–1998.

1972–1989: The Rev Canon Sir Thomas Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, the 8th Baronet Rivett-Carnac.[11]

1990–1998: The Rev John Michael Starr.[12]

1999–2008: The Rev Robert Delatour de Berry.[13] For many years de Berry was a director of the Barnabas Fund, which is a charity that supports persecuted Christians.

2009–2011: The Rev Michael Stuart Starkey.[14]

Since 2012: The Rev Canon Stephen Coulson. Previously Vicar, St Mark's Mitcham.[15]

Building

A view of the church from the southeast

Badly bombed during WWII, the church was restored through the efforts of the post-war Vicar, the Rev Wallace Bird, and reopened in 1949.[16] The church is listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England and its walls and gate piers are listed Grade II.[17][18] The WWI War Memorial is also separately listed Grade II.[19]

The organ is a 28 stop Noel Mander, installed in 1949, and originally located in the former St Andrew's, New Kent Road.[20]

On Saturdays a farmers' market is held in the churchyard. The first market took place in 2007.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Clergy of the Church of England Database". theclergydatabase.org.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Clergy of the Church of England Database". theclergydatabase.org.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Monuments of St Mark's Kennington". www.speel.me.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  5. ^ "CricInfo: Charlton Lane". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Fisher, Edmund Henry (1835-1879) bishop of Southwark - archives.trin.cam.ac.uk".
  7. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1898, p 152, states he left Kennington in 1896.
  8. ^ "Bonhams Lot Details for Y182". www.bonhams.com. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  9. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1932.
  10. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: St Mark's, Kennington". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Telegraph obituary". www.telegraph.co.uk. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: St Mark's, Kennington". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: St Mark's, Kennington". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Crockford's Clerical Directory: St Mark's, Kennington". Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Appointments". Church Times. No. 7776. 30 March 2012. p. 30. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 1 January 2025 – via UK Press Online archives.
  16. ^ "St Mark's Kennington History". stmarkskennington.org. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  17. ^ Historic England, "Church of St Mark (1080383)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 January 2018
  18. ^ Historic England, "Wall and piers around west, north and east sides of St Mark's Churchyard (1358301)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 7 January 2018
  19. ^ "NHLE entry for the War Memorial". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  20. ^ "National Pipe Organ Register N16126". npor.org.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  21. ^ "City & Country Farmers' Markets".

51°28′53″N 0°6′43″W / 51.48139°N 0.11194°W / 51.48139; -0.11194