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Sheffield St Mark

St Mark's church, Broomhill, Sheffield.

 

Detail of the complex glazing of the south nave chapel (by Gillian Rees-Thomas) whose wall is punctuated by many panels like this, executed in subtle, light tones.

 

Formerly a Victorian gothic structure from 1868, it was largely destroyed by bombs in World War II and rebuilt in a contemporary style by the highly indiviual architect George Pace between 1950-67

 

Pace retained the surviving steeple, but replaced the body of the church with a brand new design, of rough stone without (to blend with the steeple) and light plaster within. The walls are punctuated with small rectangular windows in grid formations, often irregular, a characteristic of Pace's work and one that gives a great sense of light within.

 

The resulting church is in my mind a great success, a kind of miniature Coventry Cathedral in the North. This is further enhanced by the stained glass by John Piper and Harry Stammers, which adds much needed colour within.

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Uploaded on April 5, 2008
Taken in October 2004