Didn’t Mayfair need a church? St Mark’s was built in 1825 to answer that need. The population of Mayfair grew. Aristocrats and the wealthy needed townhouses. They moved in from the country.
St Mark’s, Mayfair is a Grade I listed building. It was once an Anglican church. Now it is a food hall called Mercato Mayfair since 2019.
John Peter Gandy designed St Mark’s. It was built in the Greek Revival style. Gandy mostly designed in Neo-classical styles. St Mark’s is one of his finest examples.
In 1878, Arthur Blomfield changed the interior. He added a Romanesque roof structure and wall details. The facade is 34 feet. The porch is considered one of the finest in London.
The church was listed in 1958. It was deconsecrated in 1974. For over 20 years it was on the “Buildings at Risk” register.
Grosvenor Estates acquired the building in July 2014.
Edward Thomas Daniell was a curate at St Mark’s in 1834. He was known for his watercolors of the Near East. He also did etchings of Norfolk.
During World War II, St Mark’s was known as The American Church in London. It was near the US embassy. American worshippers gathered there. Dwight Eisenhower and Eleanor Roosevelt visited.
St Mark’s hosted the wedding of George Lascelles and Marion Stein in 1949. King George VI attended. Benjamin Britten composed a wedding anthem.
The congregation declined. St Mark’s was declared redundant in 1974. It was empty from 1975 to 1994. The Commonwealth Christian Fellowship used the church from 1994 to 2008. They offered programs for teens. They visited the elderly and helped the homeless.
St Mark’s has musical connections. Sir Charles Santley and Sir Arthur Sullivan were involved in Victorian opera there. J. W. Elliott was an organist. He composed “Day of Rest.”
John Williams and Margaret Cobb were organists. Williams was the first Master of Music at the Tower of London. Cobb was the first woman to play organ at the BBC Proms.
The church has a three-manual organ. J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd built it. There are plans to re-develop it. Concerts have been held there. Nicola Benedetti and other musicians have played at St Mark’s.
Hammer Holdings wanted to convert St Mark’s into a wellness center in 2006. Lady Sainsbury blocked the plan.
One Events acquired it in 2009. They used it as a mixed-use venue. Nike, London Fashion Week, and Grosvenor Estates used the building.
Mercato Metropolitano now operates Mercato Mayfair there.
In 2018, GSA converted St Mark’s into a cultural hub. It became a sustainable community market. The food market has revitalized the monument. It offers retail, community and cultural events. This gives Mayfair a local economic and environmental boost.
GSA’s challenge was to adapt the building. The space had to respect the history. It also had to meet the needs of a 21st-century food destination. The internal changes are reversible. This ensures the building’s longevity.
Mercato features food stalls from many cultures. It has a rooftop terrace. The basement crypt is now a wine cellar. There is also a microbrewery. Cookery classes and events are held there. Mercato serves as a community and cultural hub. It also offers affordable fresh produce.
So next time you are in Mayfair, remember that St Mark’s has evolved. It has gone from a church to a cultural hub. It reflects the changing needs of the community.