page_title: Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church (London)
section_title: As a Coptic Orthodox church (1975–present)
hierarchical_section_title: Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church (London) / History / As a Coptic Orthodox church (1975–present)
caption_attribution_description: English: The interior of St Mark's Coptic Church in Kensington, London, England.
context_page_description: Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church is a church in Kensington, London, located at the south-west corner of the intersection of Allen Street and Scarsdale Villas. It is dedicated to the founder of the Church of Alexandria, Mark the Evangelist. The building was previously Saint John's Presbyterian Church and was opened in 1863.
  Purchased from the Scottish Presbyterian church in 1975, Saint Mark's was the first Coptic Orthodox church in Europe. It was the seed church of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain and Ireland, first served by three hieromonks who later became members of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Services are conducted in both English and Arabic.
  The exterior of the church has remained almost unchanged since its construction in 1862-1863 in the Victorian Gothic style. However, the interior has changed significantly since then: in the 19th century to address aesthetic and practical issues apparent after the initial construction, involving several architects in the changes, and in the 20th century with its conversion to a Coptic Orthodox church. As part of the conversion, it was the first church outside Egypt to display Neo-Coptic iconography.
context_section_description: In 1975 St John's was sold to the Coptic Orthodox Church and has been home to the congregation of St Mark's ever since. The church was consecrated by Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria in 1979, as the first Coptic church in Europe.
caption: The nave of the church in 2015
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