Devonport: St Mark
Overview
Grid reference: SX 459 563
Early English in style. Long and low, only vertical emphasis provided by a small bellcote at the west end with a single bell. However, due to its elevated location the church does appear quite lofty from a distance. Built 1874-82 to designs by A Norman, probably a local architect, at a cost of £5,000.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave with side aisles (separate roofs), transeptal (apsidal north sacristy), chancel. Crypt underneath, undeveloped and unused.
Dimensions:
Nave 72 ½ (23.5m) x 23 feet (7.5m), chancel 30 (9.5m) x 23 feet.
Description of Archaeology and History
Built 1874-82 to designs by A Norman, probably a local architect, at a cost of £5,000.
Exterior Description
Early English in style. Long and low, only vertical emphasis provided by a small bellcote at the west end with a single bell. However, due to its elevated location the church does appear quite lofty from a distance. No clearstorey.
The nave is of 5 bays, with 5 sets of twin lancets in the aisle walls under hood-moulds with plain stops, of which the easternmost pair of windows is set lower. The west facade has two-light windows with trefoiled heads, flanking a stepped three-light lancet window, with lunette above. There are buttresses which have two steep weatherings.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1900
East wall of the chancel, three-light window. Lower panels, north – south; Annunciation - Nativity - Resurrection. Above these, Calvary group across the three lights. King in armour with celestial background in trifoleum above the Crucifixion, flanked by Angels.
Stained Glass
West facade, three-light window, north – south; St Clement (daughter church of St Mark’s, bombed in the last war), symbols of St Peter, and Miracle of the Lamb - scenes from St Mark’s life - St George and the Dragon. Inscription along the bottom of the window to the war dead 1939-45.
Stained Glass
1960
Lady Chapel, east light, and two windows in the south wall, Our Lady and Angels.
Building Materials
Limestone
Grey Plymouth limestone, with white limestone quoins
Slate
Roofs
Bath Stone
Dressings
Interior
Interior Description
The nave arcades have pointed arches with two orders of chamfers carried on round piers with scroll-moulded capitals and bases. The pointed chancel and sanctuary arches are carried on consoles corbelled out from the walls. Square responds.
There are symmetrical entrances with pointed arches at the west ends of the aisles, which give access from internal porches. The external doorways have pointed arches with continuous mouldings.
The nave and aisles have separate steeply pitched arch-braced timber roofs carried on moulded corbels. There is a waggon roof in the chancel.
The apsidal north chapel has single lancets. It houses a choir vestry and sacristy/priest’s vestry, with the organ chamber above.
In the south gable of the Lady Chapel at the east end of the south aisle there is (externally) a large pointed blank arch pierced by three glazed quatrefoils. Internally these three small windows have deeply splayed reveals.
The interior of the church is plastered white throughout, including the pier shafts. This plaster is damp and exfoliating in several places on the external walls. The nave is carpeted, while the chancel has a floor of decorated encaustic tiles. The sanctuary walls have oak panelling around the reredos.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
High altar, oak, decorated-style blind tracery front.
Altar
1914
Nave altar; oak, carved front. Donated in 1914 by the then incumbent J Heywood-Waddington.
Altar
Lady altar, modern, free standing.
Reredos
1927
Panelled, richly carved oak screen with quatrefoils, rosettes, floral designs behind the High altar, “A gift from the Sunday School 1927”. Flanked by plain oak panelling around the walls of the sanctuary.
Pulpit
1882
Octagonal stone pulpit, with Devon marble colonettes, supported on brackets with trefoils in the spandrels around a coved stem. The recessed panels of the pulpit have simple blind tracery; one contains a figure of St Mark. Carved wooden cornice.
Lectern
1882
Lectern with wooden bookrest and tripartite brass column with ornamental scrollwork, moulded base on three lions’ feet
Font (object)
1900
Octagonal stone font, each panel decorated with a quatrefoil, with a marble clustered colonette (quatripartite) base. Oak cover with four carved arms meeting and topped by a dove. Inscribed in memory of Leslie Widdecombe, died 1934.
Organ (object)
1888
The organ was built by Henry Speechly of Dalston, North London. Speechly traded from 1860-1890, and was at the Camden address, from where he built this organ, from 1888. It has three manuals and pedals with 27 speaking stops, in a style that is typical of its period. The organ was originally sited in what is now the Lady Chapel. It was rebuilt in 1979.
Rail
1918
The communion rails have been moved into the nave to accomodate a nave altar. They mirror the style of the window tracery with trefoils and were donated in 1918. There are wrought iron rails with spiral fluting in the Lady Chapel and in front of the altar known as the “children’s corner” in the south west corner of the south aisle.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SX 459 563
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
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
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