The Church of the Holy Cross, Mark

There may have been a chapel in Mark from the 12th century onwards, but the current church was dedicated by William, Bishop of Bath and Wells, in April 1268 as The Church of the Holy Cross. It is a mainly a 14th and 15th century building, further restored in 1864. Its  title changed with a new dedication to St Mark in 1853, but reverted to its earlier dedication in 1939. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.

The nave has a barrel roof decorated with the busts of abbots & abbesses, Kings & Queens, saints & bishops, including King Alfred and his wife, Queen Alswith, all of which date from the 15th century. Three 20th. century additions represent King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra and Bishop Kennion of Bath and Wells. In the Choir are wooden sculptures of the Four Evangelists, carved in 1524 by a Belgian sculptor named André, for St. Salvator's Cathedral in Bruges, which was destroyed in 1794; the carvings, bought by a former vicar of Mark, were installed in 1889.

The tower was built around 1407 and contains a peal of eight bells; the clock celebrates the jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887. In the churchyard, the market cross dates from the 15th century.

www.theartssocietysedgemoor.org.uk