St Mark's Church, Kennington


St Mark's Church, Kennington, is an Anglican church on Kennington Park Road in Kennington, London, United Kingdom near Oval tube station. The church is a Commissioners' church, receiving a grant from the Church Building Commission towards its cost. Authorised by the Church Building Act 1824, it was built on the site of the old gallows corner on Kennington Common.
The architect was David R. Roper, possibly with A.B. Clayton, and was opened in 1824. The total cost of the church, including the land and other expenses, was £22,720. This was paid partly by the local parishioners and partly by Parliament through a grant known as "The Million Fund".

Clergy

The first incumbent was William Otter, subsequently Bishop of Chichester. His son, William Bruère Otter, subsequently Archdeacon of Lewes, was another early Stipendiary Curate.
Another early Vicar was the Rev Charlton Lane, whose son, also the Rev Charlton Lane, would go on to play cricket for Oxford University and Surrey.
From 1879 to 1889, the Vicar of St Mark's was The Rev. Henry Montgomery, a clergyman who had been born into an Ulster Scots family in Cawnpore. He later served as Bishop of Tasmania. His son, who was born in Kennington, was Field Marshal The 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein.
For 50 years, including WWII, the Vicar was the top-hatted the Rev John Darlington, brother-in-law of Bishop Montgomery. Darlington drove a 1904 James & Browne, which has participated in many London to Brighton Car Runs.
In the 1970s and 80s, the Vicar was the Rev Sir Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, the 8th Baronet Rivett-Carnac.

Building

Badly bombed during WWII, the church was restored through the efforts of the post-war Vicar, the Rev Wallace Bird, and reopened in 1949. The church is listed Grade II* on the National Heritage List for England and its walls and gate piers are listed Grade II. The WWI War Memorial is also separately listed Grade II.
The organ is a 28 stop Noel Mander, installed in 1949, and originally located in the former St Andrew's, New Kent Road.
On Saturdays a farmers' market is held in the churchyard.