St Mark's Church, Gillingham , Kent

St Mark's Church, Gillingham Church

Image Source: Rob Baker

The rapid expansion of Britain's towns and cities during the Victorian-era led to the building of vast numbers of churches to cater for these mid-19th century population dynamics. A century and a half later and many of these Victorian churches have fallen by the wayside. Many have been demolished or converted into alternative use. In terms of the Anglican churches, those that have best managed to survive into the 21st century are those that have taken a clear position on the ecclesiastical spectrum - either as Anglo-Catholic or Charismatic Evangelical. St. Mark's in Gillingham (the new name given to the town of New Brompton in 1903) is an Anglican church that maintains an unashamedly Evangelical position and Charismatic worship style. It was the first of four large urban churches built in New Brompton/Gillingham in a 50 year period between 1864 and 1916. Located at a crossroads in the middle of the town centre; it was designed by architect J.P. (James Piers) St. Aubyn and constructed between 1864-66 to a total cost of £5,800. Due to space constraints it doesn't adopt the traditional liturgical dimensions and faces north.It was originally intended to have a tower and spire on its (liturgical) south side, but these were never built, possibly because of the proximity to the main road of Canterbury Street, or maybe because the church ran out of money. It contains a nave with identical lean-to aisles to the (liturgical) north and south, with the south aisle containing a small chapel at its east end. The apsed chancel contains three lancet windows east windows behind the altar. The main entrance is via a south porch on Canterbury Street while there is also a doorway underneath the very impressive stained-glass window at the (liturgical) west end. St. Aubyn's polychrome brick church superseded a temporary wooden building on the same site that had been erected in 1862; but the congregation had been meeting since 1857 in the Institute building in nearby Britton Street. The first vicar, Alfred Willis, was of the Anglo-Catholic tradition but had a huge passion for evangelism and later became the Bishop of Honolulu (Hawaii). St. Mark's was later responsible for setting up the Mission Churches that led to the creation of the next two Anglican churches in the town: St. Barnabas in 1886 and St. Luke's in 1891, both of whom eventually had large red-bricked churches built to designs by the Cutts brothers, J.E.K and J.P. (John Edward Knight and John Priston). This Missionary aspect has continued into the 21st century. In 2000 St. Mark's was largely responsible for setting up the church in the new residential development of St. Mary's Island in neighbouring Chatham, in addition to maintaining an active presence in the University of Kent in Medway that falls within the parish. Between 1984-85 the interior was reordered. The fixed wooden benches were removed, and a total immersion baptistry was built into the dais at the front of the chancel, where there once was an iron rood screen. Full immersion baptistries are an unusual feature in the Church of England, but is in keeping with this fellowship's doctrinal belief that prefers "believer's baptisms" over traditional infant baptisms (christenings) using the font, although these are still carried out. Today's font is an unassuming wooden structure located in the chancel close to the High Altar. The chancel area, containing an impressive marble reredos and well maintained organ, is kept in a respectable and ordered condition. The altar frontal is a beautiful African depiction of the Last Supper. This is reflective of the demographics of the parish and the current congregation of the church. It has never been a wealthy parish, and the screens used to project the words of both scripture and hymns/songs might not be to everyone's taste - and unfortunately do obscure the view of the (liturgical) east window when standing at the back of the church - but they do play a major role in how this congregation worships. On the day I visited there was an Gospel music concert being held later that evening, which had sold out. St. Mark's also proudly hosts a variety of interfaith events while also openly supporting the LGBT community who have often struggled to find acceptance within evangelical church environments. Text by Rob Baker

1851 Census Details

Seating Capacity: Not built

Morning Attendance: Not built

Afternoon Attendance: Not built

Evening Attendance: Not built

Architecture Details

Original Build Date/Architect: J P St Aubyn 1864

Restoration:

Second Restoration:

Notes

Website

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