St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London
| Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church | |
|---|---|
 Saint Mark's from opposite the adjacent roundabout | |
 | |
| 51°29′50″N 0°11′40″W / 51.49722°N 0.19444°W | |
| Location | Kensington, London |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria |
| Website | stmark.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 1863 (as Presbyterian church); 1979 (as Coptic Orthodox church) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Victorian Gothic |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Coptic Orthodox Diocese of London |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Anba Angaelos |
Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church is a church in Kensington, London. The building was previously known as St John's Presbyterian Church and was opened in 1863.[1]
Purchased from the Scottish Presbyterian church, Saint Mark's was the first Coptic church in Europe. It was the seed church of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, first served by three monk priests who later became members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
History
Construction (1862-1863)
The construction of the church building originated in a suggestion made by the minister of the Regent Square church to the Reverend Gavin Carlyle, a nephew of Edward Irving, that Carlyle should travel from Edinburgh to preach in London.[2] Tenders for the construction were accepted in July 1862, and in December the trustees accepted a 99-year lease at the site.[3] The architect, J.M. McCulloch, and the builders, R. and A. M. Greig, quoted a price of £3,368, but costs eventually rose to £6,000 as the church was opened in 1863.[4]
As a Scottish Presbyterian church (1863-1975)
The last service of the Presbyterian church was held in October 1975. The congregation joined the former Congregational Kensington Chapel further up Allen Street, within the Kensington United Reformed Church.[5]
As a Coptic Orthodox church (1975-present)
In 1975 St John's was sold to the Coptic Orthodox Church and has been home to the congregation of St Mark's ever since. The church was consecrated by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria in 1979, [6] as the first Coptic church in Europe.[7]
Ministry and functions
Description
The church is built in the Victorian Gothic style.
Exterior
Externally the church stands about the same as when it was first constructed in 1863.
Interior
Iconography
St Mark's was the first church outside of Egypt to display Neo-Coptic iconography. There are two stained glass windows, and a cycle of narrative icons, including a very large icon depicting the martyrdom of Saint Mark.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Our History (Pre-1975) - St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London". stmark.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Kensington 1862–1962, n.d., p. 7: St. John’s Presbyterian Church (United Reformed) The Last Years 1962–1975, n.d., pp. 13–14.
- ^ St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Kensington 1862–1962, n.d., p. 7: B.N. 11 July 1862, p. 37; 18 July 1862, p. 58.
- ^ British Almanac for 1864. Companion, p. 161: B.N. 11 July 1862, p. 37; 18 July 1862, p. 58.
- ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol42/pp386-394#p30
- ^ "Our History (Post-1975) - St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church, London". stmark.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- ^ Russell, Gerard (2014). Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 1471114724.
- ^ Gabra, Gadwat (2014). Coptic Civilization. The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 9774166558.