14: Church and steeple

Church

In 1849 there was rapid growth of Newtown, now known as Collingwood.  The rapid growth and increasing importance of the area made it necessary to provide a church and school.  The church is built of bluestone in the early English style of architecture.  The exterior of the church is very plain, constructed of largely unadorned bluestone, with simple buttresses marking structural bays and tall lancet windows.  The church's belfry is similarly unadorned, yet features beautiful masonry work. It has a square tower and broach spire.  The gardens at the George Street entrance are bound by a cast-iron palisade fence with banks of agapanthus forming a barrier.  

The Church was designed by architect James Blackburn and Richard Grice, Victorian pastoralist and philanthropist, generously contributed almost all the cost of its construction.  On July 1st, 1853, the first stone of St. Mark the Evangelist was laid by the first Bishop of Melbourne, The Right Rev. Charles Perry.  The building progressed steadily and the principals of the roof were placed in position when a gale blew them down on Sunday 17 September 1853.  Following an outpouring of sympathy and money, the work recommenced.  When St. Mark’s opened its doors on Sunday, January 21st, 1855, the church was not fully completed because there was no east tower or spire.

The interior is noted for its lofty, spacious and stately proportions.  It is peaceful and serves as a quiet sanctuary from the noisy world outside.

There were major renovations in 1898, 1923 and the 1990s.  The church needs more work now.

Steeple

In 1874-5 the Church tower was built.  In 1894 the spire was struck by lighting and it became decidedly askew.  This was fixed as part of the renovations in 1923. The renovations were funded by the Golden Thousand Fair hosted by the church specifically to raise the funds for restoration.

In November 2019 a homeless person was using the doorway as a refuge.  He had a dispute with a couple of people.  They came back to retaliate and set fire to his belongings in the doorway to the tower.  Fortunately, he wasn’t there but the fire took hold and emergency services had to attend.  The doorway and tower were damaged and an insurance claim lodged.  The door is therefore recent but the tower survived.

Around the towers on the roof there is flashing.  When that doesn’t do its job, water can get into the church.  As you imagine a building as old as this one needs a lot of tender loving care.  In 2021, a storm meant some of the air vent ripped off and was flashing in the wind. It needed to be replaced for safety reasons. We have kept the original to give an idea of size. The air vents along the apex of the roof provide ventilation for the church and a home for birds who often accompany the singing in the church.  The old air vent can be seen outside the new tower door