St Mark

Originally built in the 12th century, it was extensively remodelled by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1850s. It remains a busy and thriving parish church, with services every Sunday.

Visitors are drawn to St Mark’s because of its peaceful and rural location and comments in the visitors book reveal that they find the church a special place to visit, the legacy of 800 years of prayer and worship. There is plenty to interest students of history and architecture. Sir Francis Englefield and Sir Francis Walsingham both lived at Englefield House during Tudor times and an earlier Englefield, Sir Thomas (d1514), whose tomb sits between the chancel and the Englefield Chapel, was Speaker of the House of Commons. The renowned Victorian Revival architect Sir George Gilbert Scott was responsible for the restoration/remodelling in the 1850s and also worked on other projects in the area, including at nearby Bradfield College, Reading Gaol and other churches on the Estate.

There are many memorials to the Englefield, Paulet and Benyon families; John Dryden’s fine epitaph on the north wall commemorates John Paulet, 5th Marquis of Winchester, who defended Basing House during the Civil War and ended his days at Englefield. The Englefield Chapel was added in the 16th century and contains, amongst many memorial tablets, a fine alabaster monument to John Englefield (d1567) and his family, as well as a Norman piscina found during the rebuilding of the chancel in the 19th century. The chapel was reopened and restored in 1985. In the south aisle is the fine 13th century Apostles window (the stained glass is later) and inset into the south wall there are two 14th century effigies of a Crusader knight and his lady.

St Mark’s is a busy and active parish church with regular services. Permission was granted recently to reinstate the 13th century circular tub font and to remove some pews from the back of the church to allow space to serve refreshments. The limed oak folding chairs were made by local cabinetmaker Andrew Rockall. St Mark’s has featured in various films made at Englefield, as well as being the church where Pippa Middleton and James Matthews were married in May 2017.