“Did you know that St Mark’s Anglican Church in Darling Point has hosted celebrity weddings?”
St Mark’s Anglican Church stands before us. It is more than just a building. It’s a landmark with stories etched in its sandstone walls.
St Mark’s Anglican Church is an active Anglican church. It is located in Darling Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The church is part of a heritage group. This group includes the rectory and adjacent cottage.
Construction spanned from 1848 to 1880. Edmund Blacket designed St Mark’s Anglican Church. He was the Colonial Architect to New South Wales. The design reflects an early Victorian Rustic Gothic Revival style. You can see it in the nave, chancel, and tower. The church also features a spire. Sydney sandstone and hardwood timber shingles were used.
Completed in 1854, the spire was a gift from William Laidley. An extension to the west followed in 1861. This included the porch and gallery. William Bradley funded the vestries in 1863.
Before the church was built, Thomas Ware Smart provided a chapel. It was in one of his cottages in Mona Lane. This temporary space was known as the Chapel of St Mark.
St Mark’s Anglican Church is well-known in Australia. It has become a popular wedding venue. Elton John’s first marriage was held here. The fictional wedding in the film Muriel’s Wedding also took place here. Social photographer Sam Hood captured weddings during the 1930s.
Bishop William Grant Broughton supported the church. Reverend George Fairfowl Macarthur was the first minister. He also ran St Mark’s School. The school was first at the rectory. Then it was at Macquarie Fields and later at The Kings School, Parramatta.
The current rector is Reverend Michael Jensen. He has served since 2013. His father was Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen.
The design was based on Holy Trinity in Lincolnshire, England. Edmund Blacket presented this design. After completion, St Mark’s Anglican Church opened in 1852. Thomas Mort, Thomas Ware Smart, and Thomas Whistler Smith were the first church wardens.
Thomas Ware Smart donated the bells in 1862. They rang for his step-daughter’s wedding. William Bradley gave the tower and steeple. His property, Lindesay, was one of the earliest in Darling Point.
The rectory mirrors thirteenth-century English Gothic style.
The church features a high nave. Small clerestory windows light it. These windows have trefoil lights above the aisles. The tower is sandstone. There is an octagonal vestry. Gothic styling and wooden shingles add character. Inside, you’ll find sandstone walls and timber. Stained glass and leadlight windows add color. The gallery and timber hammer beam ceilings complete the look.
The original organ was installed in 1860. It was rebuilt and enlarged several times. The current organ is a Letourneau Pipe Organ. It was commissioned in 2002 and installed in 2004.
St Mark’s offers many ministries. These include youth groups and pre-marriage courses. There are also groups for quilters and gardeners. St Mark’s also supports Rough Edges. This supports St John’s in Darlinghurst.
The church has a historical society. It preserves and celebrates the church’s history.
As you leave St Mark’s Anglican Church, remember its rich history. Think of the weddings and community events. This church remains a vital part of Darling Point.