Holy Cross

Getting here

Churchwarden : Heather Popham 01278-641225

Our church is situated in the centre of the village, on Church Street, and is in a joint benefice with the parish of Allerton just 3 miles away.

The church is at the centre of village life and is lively & social and many groups of people join in worship, special events and in the maintenance of the church and churchyard.

If you are interested in joining our worship and helping in any way, then we would be delighted to see you – please feel free to contact our churchwardens to learn more.

We have a children’s church, a choir, bell ringers, flower arrangers, cleaners, and much more.

History.
Although it is believed there was a chapel in Mark as early as 1176, one of the earliest references to there being a church here appears in about 1265, when the new Mark Church was said to be ‘recently’ consecrated. If you look towards the Choir and Organ, let your eyes travel up the column on the left and eight feet up a Cross is incised in the stonework and this is believed to be the Consecration Cross.

The Church was dedicated by William, Bishop of Bath and Wells in April 1268 as “The Church of the Holy Cross”

In 1853 the Church was dedicated to St Mark but reverted to the earlier dedication in 1939. The niche above the main porch contains a figure of what must be St Mark with his attribute of the lion (in fact there are two of them!).

The oldest remaining part of the building, the South Side, or what we now call the Lady Chapel, probably dates from 1268. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Church was enlarged at least twice, and in the late 15th century the Chancel was extended and the Tower and North Porch added.

The Church clock was installed in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and now has an electrical winding system.

The remarkable and beautifully carved Four Evangelists in the Choir, each with his attribute or symbol, are arguably the greatest treasure and were carved by a Belgian sculptor, André, in 1524 from single pieces of oak – they were originally in Bruges Cathedral.

The North Aisle Roof is quite magnificent woodwork with Tudor carvings, while the main Nave Barrel Roof features many heads of Abbots, Saints and Bishops including King Alfred and his wife, most of which date back to the 14th century.

Mark Church has a peal of eight bells and is reputed to be one of the finest peals of bells in the area. 

Church Street
Mark
Highbridge
TA9 4NG

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