Buildings & Grounds

The church buildings of St Mark's and All Saints' and some items in them have National Trust classification, but the upkeep of the buildings is entirely the responsibility of the members of the Church who give to pay the stipends of the staff and maintain the worship centres. We do not receive any public funding. The Parish Council is grateful to receive donations and bequests from people who wish to support the work here or share in the heavy maintenance costs of the historic buildings. The flowers, which beautify the building week by week are arranged by those who give their time as members of the Flower Guild.

The Nave: the 'crossing' at the front of the pews represents the horizontal cross of Christ. In All Saints' the crossing does not protrude on the south side, but in most old cathedrals and large churches it does, to form a clear cross on the floor plan. At the south (right) side is the Pulpit (from Latin for platform - raised so that the speaker can be seen) and at the north side the Font; one representing the teaching of Christ, the other representing the naming for Christ.

The Chancel: Two steps lead into the Chancel, comprising the Choir and the Sanctuary. Couples exchange their voews standing at the front of the Nave, and then kneel on the first Chancel step to receive the Nuptial Blessing. Their first walk together as married people is up through the Choir to the altar.

The Sanctuary: Is that portion of the Chancel containing the Altar or Holy Table, commencing at the first Altar step, upon which communicants kneel. In All Saints' the Altar is elevated three steps, a reminder of God the Holy Trinity, made known to us as Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.

The Baptistry: the place for Baptisms. In the traditional design of churches this was either a separate chapel, or at the west end or main entrance to the church-building, symbolising the beginning of our Christian journey. It contains the Font (from Latin 'fons' = 'spring of water'). In St Mark's, the font is on the south side of the entrance. In All Saints', the Baptistry is on the north side of the Nave crossing; the font (1888) is alabaster, made in Sydney; it is a copy of the one in St. Beverley's, Yorkshire. Beyond the Baptistry are the Rector's and Servers' Vestries.

The Lectern: the stand for the Bible; the word lectern comes from the Latin "to read". In All Saints' the lectern is carved in the form of an eagle - the bird which soars highest in the heavens and is the symbol for John, the fourth of the Gospels. It symbolises that the good news of Christ's love is for the whole world, for the whole cosmos.

The Kneelers: in the pews of All Saints' were made in the late 1960's by a small group of parishioners. Worked in cross stitch on even weave wool, they depict symbols of Saints and Parish organisations. The cushions, kneelers and the communion rail kneeler in the Sanctuary are all canvas work. The designs have been taken from carvings on the furniture and the floor tiles of the sanctuary. 

This page last updated 15/09/2007 Top of page