St Mark's Church, Leicester

St Mark’s Church, Leicester is a Grade II* listed[1] former parish church in the Church of England in Leicester, Leicestershire.[2]

St Mark's Church, Leicester
LocationLeicester
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
DedicationSt Mark
Consecrated25 April 1872
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II* listed[1]
Architect(s)Ewan Christian
Groundbreaking1870
Completed1872
Closed1986
Specifications
Length99.5 feet (30.3 m)
Nave width31.5 feet (9.6 m)
Spire height168 feet (51 m)

History

The foundation stone was laid in 1870 by the Bishop of Peterborough. The church was the gift of William Perry-Herrick and built to the designs of the architect Ewan Christian. The contractor for the foundations was Firn of Leicester, Osbourne of Leicester constructed the building. The clerk of works was James Nichols. The bells were supplied by Taylor of Loughborough, and the clock was from Moore of Clerkenwell, London.

The church was consecrated on 25 April 1872 by the Bishop of Peterborough.[3]

The stained glass windows inserted at the time of the consecration in the chancel were by Ward and Hughes. Later additions include windows in the south east chapel by Henry Holiday in 1893 and in the north east chapel by Charles Eamer Kempe in 1895.

The west end was completed in 1903 by Ernest Charles Shearman.

The apse contained a painting by James Eadie Reid dating from 1910 “The Triumph and Apotheosis of Labour”.

Redundancy and subsequent use

The church was made redundant by the Church of England in 1986 after which it remained vacant until being converted into a conference and wedding venue known as The Empire Banqueting Hall in 2005.

Organ

The pipe organ was built by William Hill & Sons in 1871. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[4]

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of St Mark, Belgrave Gate  (Grade II*) (1300759)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. The Buildings of England. Leicestershire and Rutland. Nikolaus Pevsner. Yale University Press. ISBN 0300096186
  3. "Consecration of St Mark's Church, Leicester". Leicester Chronicle. Leicester. 27 April 1872. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  4. "NPOR N04500". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
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