Notting hill: St Mark
Overview
Grid reference: TQ 242 810
The church of Saint Mark, Notting Hill, was built in 1863 in the middle of fields west of Ladbroke Grove. The building is in a Gothic style with bands of brick and stone, flying buttresses and a spire. In 1871 the average congregation numbered over 1,000 drawn from 'both the higher middle class and the poor'.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, north and south aisles, north and south transepts (which do not, however, project beyond the aisle walls), chancel and apsidal sanctuary. There is a south-west tower (with entrance porch below) surmounted by a spire and, balancing it on the north, another entrance porch surmounted by a slender diminutive tower and stone spirelet.
Description of Archaeology and History
One of two churches by Bassett Keeling which still survive in Kensington.
Exterior Description
St. Mark is of brick, with a large plate-traceried west window, and other weathering surfaces and decorative detail in stone. The spire, with its chamfered corners and tall lucarnes, imparts a certain Rhenish flavour to the exterior. The west front faces the street and, as the building is otherwise closely hemmed - in, it forms a strong and distinctive element in the streetscape - projecting slightly forwards, and providing welcome relief from the surrounding brick and stucco blandness.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
South transept: four lights by Heaton, Butler and Bayne showing Our Lord, with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and another episode from Our Lord's earthly Ministry.
Stained Glass
1869-72
Apse: three large windows of three principal lights each
Stained Glass
1908
North aisle: St. Luke and St. John. Two lights, which look like late products of the William Morris firm.
Interior
Interior Description
Inside the predominant characteristic of the building is its tallness and, as at St. George's, Campden Hill, some of the original character of the building was lost by removal of the galleries. At Mark's the galleries were removed in 1896 and the consequent weakening of the fabric lead to the encasing of the cast-iron piers in concrete and the placing of conerete beams at intervals along the north aisle. Although this may detract from the integrity of the building it is far from being, visually, a disaster. The west gallery was not taken down until 1906, and the existence of stepped west windows in the lower stage of the west wall is explainedby the fact that they formerly lit the stairs to the gallery.
The nave arcade is of four bays, with tall pointed arches of red, white and black brick. There is a further; unarcaded, bay to the west. The arched braces of the nave come down on to short marble columns which have richly luxuriant capitals, and these are supported by stone corbels of still more richly carved and naturalistic luxuriance. The sanctuary is apsidal, of three large canted bays.
Fixtures and fittings
Rood Screen
1920
Large hanging Rood, originally from St. Columb, Notting Hill
Organ (object)
1950
By Noel Mander
Painting
Crucifixion: painted on panel, formerly part of the High Altar reredos. Vestry.
Painting
Four more panels, of Saints, from the former High Altar reredos are mounted on a stand in the north-west corner of the nave.
Painting
Small panel of an Angel blowing Trumpet, in a gilt Gothic frame. Vestry
Painting
Stations of the Cross: from St. John, Holland Road, Kensington. In gilt Gothic frames.
Painting
In the south transept is an engraving of the Madonna & Child with Saints in a good Victorian frame: also a painting on canvas of the Madonna & Child, derived from Murillo
Clock
A Victorian wall-clock, high up in the south-west corner of the nave
Font (object)
1900
Octagonal, and of stone
Churchyard
Grid reference: TQ 242 810
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
The churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard is closed for burial by order in council.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.