A PARISH HISTORY
First, a note: St Mark's is the oldest of the three churches in our Team. It was, once, the 'mother-church' of the parish, with St Francis (1936) and St Nicholas (1930) being seen as 'daughter-churches' (along with a number of other churches in the area, which have since become parish churches in their own right). This is no longer the case...all three churches have equal status within the Team. However, because of this history, a history of the Parish is almost inevitably dominated by St Mark's. This is also because of the momentous changes which took place in the buildings used by the congregation of St Mark's. In time, we hope to add details of history of St Francis and St Nicholas - once such details are forthcoming from congregation members! We also hope that website readers will please feel free to send comments, corrections, photographs etc to us, via the Contact Us page 1867 There were many objections, but on 20th April 1868 a temporary Church was opened in an upper room of the dance hall of ‘The Clarence Gardens’. The Rev'd NG McGachen was appointed priest-in-charge, but did not stay in the post very long. A further two priests were appointed, but soon left, and the mission was closed down and services suspended. 1871 The foundation stone of the permanent building was laid on 23rd December 1872. The building was designed by Mr Arthur Bloomfield and built by a local builder, Mr Quick of Southsea costing £2,904 with the Campanile (bell tower) a further £3,000. The building had no south aisle and extended only as far as the old north door. 1873 1884 1888 1892 1899 1901 1902 1906 1908 1909 1910 1912 1913 1915 1917 1923 1924 1927 1929 1930 1933 1936 1941 1946 The appointments of a new Vicar, the Rev'd G Ellision, and new organist, Russell Shepherd FRCO (Chm) LTCL. The choir was affiliated to the RSCM 18 October 1946 The Old Vicarage - on the site The New Vicarage (from the rear). Shown in early 2008 1951 1956 1959 1963 (Photo kindly provided by Mr and Mrs Pegley) 1967 The church faced with increased costs for heating and a large and draughty building which needed a lot attention, the Church Committee of the time made the decision to replace with old Church and also to dispense with the St Mark’s Institute. The sale of the old Vicarage in Derby Road, opposite the old Church, gave a source of income to purchase a new Vicarage away from the Church, and its eventual demolition paved the way for the for the construction of a new building incorporating a ‘Worship’ Area and lower floor ‘Social’ Area 1969 1970 The building was initially not much loved! A Quote from ‘Churches, Chapels and Places of Worship on ‘The new St Mark’s Church (1970) was designed by John Wells-Thorpe. The yellow brick cubic exterior is completely featureless; the only decoration is the stylised sculpture of the emblem of St Mark, which bears resemblance to the logo of a well-known brand of lager! The interior continues in the same drab, mundane style. A tall vertical slab, containing one bell, stands before the edifice. It is hard to believe that this will ever become “listed”!’ 1971 Bill Sargeant inaugurated an Easter Procession from the Portchester Crematorium to the churches of North End - as a sign of the connection between Easter and death. To see the newpaper article from the time click here 1972 1973 1989 After an absence from the city of some years, Fr. Ron served as Priest of our neighbouring parish -The Ascension, North End until November 2009 1993 During Father Jeffrey's time at St Mark's, the first woman deacon and later priest worked in to Parish until 2003. This was the Rev'd Pennie Payne, affectionally known as 'Sister Pennie' 2002 Phoo of Fr. Malcolm awaited 2005 2005 2006 The 2008 September 2008 2009 2009 2009
North End was sparsely populated, and the authorities were approached by Messers GE Kent, WD King and JJ Young to hold services in the North End Hall.
The Rev'd S Lidbetter was appointed priest-in-charge; the population of North End was growing and a piece of land at the corner of London Road with Derby Road was given by Winchester College for the erection of a new building and during his first year mission halls were opened at Rudmore and Stamshaw.
The Rev'd Lidbetter was appointed Vicar of St Mark’s Church
William Mudge LLCM was appointed organist
A vestry was added facing
The Rev'd G Dandridge was appointed Vicar and W J Granger appointed organist
The south aisle was added to the church
The Rev'd J
Mr A Merrifield ARCO was appointed organist
St Stephen's Church (interior below)
A new parish was created out of the southern portion of the Parish and was dedicated to St Stephen. This church was later to suffer damage during the Blitz in the Second World War. The Holy Trinity parish was closed.
An iron church was erected in
The Rev'd L Blackburne was appointed Vicar. The Abolition of Pew Rents. The original organ was dismantled and installed in
Erection of the Parish Institute in
Victor Spanner, BMus FRCO LRAM was appointed organist
Permanent Churches were erected in
Ernest C Birch Hon RSCM was appointed organist
A portion of the Parish was devolved with the formation of The Parish of St Alban at Copnor
The Rev'd E Southam was appointed Vicar
New organ installed
The Rev'd F Colson appointed Vicar
The Churches of the Ascension and St Saviour became independent Parishes
The daughter
The Rev'd B Aston was appointed Vicar
St Francis Mission was consecrated on a new site in Northern Parade replacing the temporary building dedicated to St Joan.
1937
The Rev'd E Millard was appointed Vicar
Enemy action damaged some of the building of St Mark’s Church, but not seriously.
Work carried out on St Mark’s Church to repair war damage - new glass replacing old. The Victorian Reredos was removed and new altar rails added. The font from the Baptistery was brought into the body of the main building of the Church.
of the present St Mark's Church 
The Rev'd G Pepys was appointed Vicar
The organ was rebuilt and rededicated
The Rev'd P. de Denne May appointed Vicar
Rev'd Tom Devonshire-Jones appointed Assistant Curate in 1963. This photo shows him at the wedding of Alan and Margaret Pegley on 6th July 1963 - Rev'd Devonshire-Jones' first wedding.
The Rev'd Lloyd Gressle from
The Rev'd Bill Sargent was appointed Vicar. During his time in the parish, he oversaw the opening of the new St Mark's building, and founded the Portsmouth Housing Association.
The new
The Bronze Lion of St Mark was fixed to the south aspect of the new church building, a gift of
A new, and (we think!) rather magnificent Hill, Norman and Beard organ was built and installed.
Scout Hut to the rear of the church car park was opened.
The Rev'd Ron Robinson was appointed Vicar until 1992.
The Rev'd Jeffrey Bell was appointed Vicar - until 2000. Now working in Tilford, nr Guildford (2009)
The Rev'd Malcolm King was appointed Vicar
The Rev'd Di Townsend was appointed as Team Vicar (Designate) of St Francis
The Rev'd Bev Robertson was appointed as Team Vicar (Designate) of St Nicholas
The Parish of St Mark, Portsea, became the ‘North End Portsmouth Team Ministry’ (on the 22nd of June 2006).
The Rev'd Tom Kennar was appointed as Team Rector on the 27th of May.
Our new Community Cafe opens - run by volunteers from all three churches. The Cafe serves good value food and provides a warm, welcoming place for local people to make friends. The Cafe's motto is "stay as long as you like!" (unlike commercial cafe's which tend to need a steady flow of customers!)
ETHOS is launched at St Nicholas. See our Ethos page for more information about this.
The Rev'd Canon Joseph Bain-Doodu (from Cape Coast in Ghana) is appointed 'Associate Priest', while studying Canon Law.
New Parish Website launched in June