St Mark’s Programmes
This page contains details of activities which are mainly based at St Mark's
The minister in charge at for St Mark's is
the Rev'd Tom Kennar
St Mark's Choir
Our choir, which was re-formed in 2008, and is affiliated to the Royal School of Church Music, has a long and proud history. Made up of between 15 and 20 singers (depending on who is around on a given Sunday), the choir has often been referred to as one of the best in Portsmouth. Our repetoire is very broad - encompassing styles ranging from the Rennaisance, right up to the present day. We have sung everything from music by Gibbons, Stainer, Rutter and Taize...as well as some rock 'n' roll from time to time as well!
We are currently under the directorship of Tom Kennar, our Rector (who trained as a musician before becoming a priest!).
Organist: Chris Kimber Assistant Conductor: Geoff Porter
New members are always welcome. All ages are welcome - providing they can hold a tune! We'll even teach you to read music! Why not come along to one of our choir rehearsals (from 6.45pm every Friday - except August) and join in? We'd love to meet you!
For more information about the choir, including up-coming services and other events, please go to the St Mark's Choir page
SMYLE (Sunday School)
"SMYLE" stands for "St Mark's Young Lively Evangelists!" - and is our Sunday School for all ages of children. Sunday School is currently available for the first half of all our 10am services - except on the 3rd Sunday of the month (when we bring everyone together, from every background, for an 'All-in' service'. New members are always very welcome - just turn up and ask to speak to one of our Sunday School leaders.
(Safety note: Our parish operates a very comprehensive safeguarding policy for children and vulnerable adults. All our adult volunteers and staff submit themselves to a criminal records check before they are permitted to work with any child. You can be sure that your child is safe at all three of our churches!)
Community Cafe
(A Parish Initiative, based at St Mark's)
Our Community Cafe offers really good value food, and a warm place for local people to make friends. It is staffed entirely by volunteers (mainly from our three churches). More volunteers are always welcome - especially to help open the Cafe on other days of the week.
Our current opening times are: Mondays and Thursdays: 10am to 1.30pm
Monthly Table-Top Sales
St Mark's runs a monthly table top sale which, as well as boosting church funds, gives an opportunity for other local good causes to raise money.
The Table Top sale runs every second Saturday of the month, in our main hall. New good causes and other table-top operators are most welcome.
For information about how to book a table, please contact our Parish Adminstrator. See the Contact Us page.
LENT 2010 - Treasure in Clay Jars
Hiring our Halls
We have a number of different spaces which we are delighted to hire out to the local community, when they are not being used by us! We have a large hall (with a kitchen attached) as well as a small 'committee room' which is ideal for small groups to meet. (It is currently used by a Writer's Club and a Poetry Society, for example).
Our worship area is also available to let for concerts, dance classes etc. We have a magnificent Hill, Norman & Beard Organ, which makes an ideal instrument to accompany any choir or orchestra. Our worship area can accommodate around 240 concert-goers.
For further information please see our hall hire page.