St Mark's Church, Connah's Quay

St Mark's Church, Connah's Quay is in the town of Connah's Quay, Flintshire, Wales. It is an active Anglican church in the mission area of Borderlands, the archdeaconry of Wrexham and the diocese of St Asaph. The church is the parish church for Connah's Quay and the mother church of St David's Church, Connah's Quay.[1] It is designated as a Grade II listed building by Cadw.[2] The new Vicar, Rev'd Alexier Mayes, was licensed in April 2018.[3]

St Mark's Church, Connah's Quay
St Mark's Church, Connah's Quay, from the northwest
Map
53°13′16″N 3°03′49″W / 53.2212°N 3.0637°W / 53.2212; -3.0637
OS grid referenceSJ 290 698
LocationConnah's Quay, Flintshire
CountryWales
DenominationChurch in Wales
WebsiteSt Mark's Church, Connah's Quay
History
StatusParish church
DedicationSaint Mark
Consecrated13 August 1837
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architect(s)John Lloyd, John Douglas
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic Revival
Groundbreaking1836
Completed1933
Specifications
Capacity200
Administration
ProvinceChurch in Wales
DioceseSt Asaph
ArchdeaconryWrexham
DeaneryHawarden
ParishConnah's Quay
Clergy
Vicar(s)Rev. A. Mayes
Laity
Reader(s)L. Joy, W. Harrison
Churchwarden(s)A. Price, B. Macaskill

History

edit

St Mark's was built in 1836–37 to a design by John Lloyd.[4] The church then consisted of a nave with a small apse and a tower at the west end.[5] Between 1876 and 1878 the Chester architect John Douglas added the chancel and refitted the church.[4] The choir vestry was built in 1933 with stone from the former Kelsterton Brewery. The lych gates had been built in 1917 but in 1974–75 they were moved towards the church when a lay-by was constructed. At this time a memorial garden was laid out and gravestones were moved. It is believed that the clock by J. Benson of London was installed in 1837. This was repaired and refurbished in 1991 by JB Joyce & Co of Whitchurch. The bells which had been donated in 1891 were removed in the 1990s because they had become unsafe.[5]

Fittings and furniture

edit

The font at the front of the church dates from 1876. The pulpit is made from carved Caen stone and dates from the same period, as does the lectern.[5] There is a portable Nave Altar used at most services, which is moved for weddings and funerals. The original reredos dating from 1878 was covered up - the current reredos was painted in 1924 and installed as a gift from the Choir in memory of the Fallen from Connah's Quay following the Great War. The organ was built by Whiteley Brothers of Chester in 1879. It was renovated in 1974 and restored in 2000. The Memorial Doors in the gallery were given in 2000 in memory of the deceased of the parish. In the church is a monument dated 1839 by William Spence.[4]

External features

edit

In 1917 a lych gate was built in Arts and Crafts style in memory of a previous vicar of the church. It is in sandstone with a timber superstructure. The lych gate is designated by Cadw as a Grade II listed building.[6]

Services

edit

The Parish Church holds an 8:00am Said Holy Eucharist, an 11:00am Parish Eucharist, at which the choir are present, and a 6:00pm service run by Golftyn Chapel. There is also a Holy Eucharist service every Thursday morning at 10:00am.[7]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Connah's Quay, Church in Wales, retrieved 29 January 2014
  2. ^ Cadw, "Church of St Mark (Grade II) (85254)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 2 April 2019
  3. ^ New Vicar for Connah’s Quay, The Parish of Connah's Quay, retrieved 18 April 2018
  4. ^ a b c Hubbard, Edward (1986), Clwyd, The Buildings of Wales, London: Penguin, p. 339, ISBN 0-14-071052-3
  5. ^ a b c A Guide to St Mark's, The Parish of Connah's Quay, retrieved 18 April 2018
  6. ^ Cadw, "Lychgate at Church of St Mark (85260)", National Historic Assets of Wales, retrieved 11 April 2019
  7. ^ Connah's Quay Parish Profile (PDF), Church in Wales, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2013, retrieved 8 November 2013