page_title: St Mark's Church, Huddersfield
section_title: Interior
hierarchical_section_title: St Mark's Church, Huddersfield / Interior
caption_attribution_description: Former Church of St Mark, Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, North Yorkshire, England. Built 1887, designed by architect William Swinden Barber. Building viewed from south-east.
context_page_description: The former St Mark's Church, Old Leeds Road, Huddersfield, was an Anglican parish church in West Yorkshire, England. It was previously known as St Mark's, Leeds Road, before the road name was changed. This building was designed in 1886 by William Swinden Barber when the parish of St Peter's was split and a new building was required to accommodate a growing congregation. It was opened in 1887. Among the vicars posted in this benefice were the very popular Canon Percy Holbrook, the notoriously unfortunate Reverend Jonas Pilling who was involved in a standoff with his congregation for many years, the sociable Reverend Robert Alfred Humble who died in mysterious circumstances, and the eloquent preacher Reverend Joseph Miller, who had previously been a Congregational minister. The building was sold by the Church of England in 2001, and it has been converted into a block of offices.
context_section_description: The original plan shown to journalists at the foundation ceremony showed a nave 63 feet (19 m) by 26 feet (7.9 m), and a chancel 23.5 feet (7.2 m) by 26 feet (7.9 m). The widths of the south porch, and the north and south aisles were 12 feet (3.7 m) and 11.5 feet (3.5 m) wide respectively. At the east end of the north aisle, alongside the chancel, was a space for the organ (this was in place by 1907, as pictured above). Beneath the chancel and the east ends of both aisles were "spacious vestries and a heating chamber." By the time of the September 1887 consecration, these undercroft rooms had become two vestries, a heating chamber and a store room. There was room for these as the ground inclined rapidly to the west, and the chancel above was raised by seven steps. The Huddersfield Chronicle described the 1886 plans for the interior thus: 
  "Internally the roofs and chancel arch are somewhat striking, owing to the wide span and heavy timbers which will be used, but all details such as the windows and open benches are very plainly drawn. The east window will be of three long lancet lights, ad here is an opportunity for a display of stained glass, which would be a decoration of great value to the interior of the building. [In the event, no stained glass was ever forthcoming in this poor area]. Seats are to be provided for 422 adults and 112 children"
   At the consecration, the accommodation was described as "500 adults." The cost was estimated in 1886 at £3,250 (equivalent to £360,000 in 2019). Messrs B. Graham and Nephew of Mold Green, Kirkheaton contracted for the excavators, masons, carpenters and joiners' work. George Garton contracted for the plumbers and glaziers; Mr Jowitt contracted for the slaters and plasterers; and S. Kendall contracted for the painters. Mr Calvert made the heating apparatus.
  The internal wooden roofs of nave and chancel were described in 1887 as "waggon-headed"; that is to say that the ceiling above the trusses was in the form of a round arch like the cover of a wagon. This type of roof was believed to give "good acoustic properties." In 1887 there was a font, paid for by W.H. Jessop, a carved wooden pulpit given by Mrs Foster in memory of Mr Laycock, and a brass lectern funded by Mrs Laing.
caption: The undercroft vestry level is visible from outside
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