The Parish Church of St. Mark, Layton,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

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was built in 1927. The building is home to a

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

Christian community. St.Mark's is a young church compared to many other churches, but has close links with local history because Layton Village was mentioned in the

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

Era 1066-1154 AD.

History

The Rev. E.T. Williams and the architect Mr E.E Dennis designed the church featuring the strong designs of

Norman Architecture The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries. In particular the term is traditionally used f ...

. Construction began In 1925 using

Rainhill Rainhill is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside, England. The population of the civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 10,853. Historically part of Lancashire, Rainhill was formerly a townsh ...

Sandstone red brick. This is the same material as used to build

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Liverpool Cathedral is the Cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Liverpool, built on St James's Mount in Liverpool, and the seat of the Bishop of Liverpool. It may be referred to as the Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool (as recorded in the ...

. The builders, J.R Fielding & Sons had the services of Mr Tom Roberts, master stonemason and wood-carver Mr J.R Bell. The building was completed in time for the newly enthroned Bishop of Blackburn, Dr. Percy Herbert, to consecrate the Church of St Mark, Layton on 27 September 1927. Tom Roberts fixed 9,000 cubic feet of stone in addition to the carvings seen particularly in the Sanctuary and the carvings of J. R. Bell.

Organ

The church contains a pipe organ by Ernest Walklet. Costing £430, it was opened on 29 March 1934 by Frank Rawes of Poulton Parish Church. A specification of the organ can be found on the

National Pipe Organ Register The British Institute of Organ Studies (BIOS) is a British organisation and registered charity which aims to promote study and appreciation of all aspects of the pipe organ. Further, it acts as a lobbying body to raise awareness of organ issue ...

Congregation

It is informally known in Layton, as "The Church on The Hill". It is an Anglican church seeking to be faithful to God in Word, Spirit, Service and Life. As a Christian community serving in the villages of Layton, Grange Park & Little Carleton it exists to welcome all to share new life through faith in Jesus Christ. Its "Mission" is to be a growing, all age Christ Centred Community: *Growing upwards towards God through renewed worship and Bible teaching *Growing together as a united congregation based on caring cell groups *Growing outwards into the local community and beyond, sharing the love of Christ through evangelism and service St Mark's belongs to the

Diocese of Blackburn The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created on 12 November 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool and Burnley, the cities of Lancas ...

. On a local level it also belongs to two particular support groups of churches: *THE 5ACT GROUP: made up of 5 Anglican Parishes in Blackpool which are committed to working together for mutual support and joint mission: St Mark's, St Thomas' St John's, St Luke's and Christ Church With All Saints. In addition, it is formally partnered with St Luke's Church of England, Staining for joint services and shared role of Vicar. *CHURCHES TOGETHER (LAYTON): made up of the main denominations in the area (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and United Reformed Church).

References

{{Blackpool buildings Churches in Blackpool Blackpool