St Mark

Built in 1826, St Mark is a unique Georgian B-listed building. Its architectural changes over the last 200 years closely echo the changing fortunes of its local Portobello community as well as the liturgical changes in the Anglican Church.

St Mark was one of the first Episcopal churches to be built in the Edinburgh Diocese after the repressions of the Penal Laws that followed the Jacobite risings in the 18th century. It is surrounded by a graveyard, which is still used for burials and the internment of ashes today. It is also a place of rest, relaxation and reflection, widely used by the community of Portobello. The graves show some of the history of Portobello, including its links to the British military, and it also has a Commonwealth War grave.

The building has a category B listing and is of a villa-like Neoclassical design, fronted with an imposing semi-circular Doric arched porch with flat-topped dome which conceals a cupola lantern that lights the inner vestibule and stair to the gallery.

The two pictorial stained-glass windows to the east and west of the nave (1882) are by Ballantine & Sons and have their characteristic Renaissance borders. They depict the Good Samaritan and ‘The soul of Jonathan knit with the soul of David’. The stained glass over the altar was gifted in 1919 and depicts Christ crucified, flanked by Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St John. It replaces an earlier stained glass window gifted in 1872 that was transferred to the back of the nave to make way for the new donation. It is believed that this earlier window was destroyed in the fire of 1967.

Today St Mark's is a thriving congregation who meet twice a week to worship, to explore faith and life and to share communion. We often use different service structures for special occasions, and celebrate all the major church seasons, as well as providing quiet space for reflection and prayer. It occupies a prominent position on Portobello High Street surrounded by a garden that is widely used by the community.

Our building space is used by a wide variety of local organisations. We organise various open days, fairs, coffee mornings and other community events.