St Mark

St Mark’s is one of a series of big Commissioners Churches erected in the expanding pottery towns in the early 19th century. The building is distinguished by its interior which retains the original galleries with unusual cast ironwork supporting these, and the nave ceiling. The 1868 polygonal chancel with its contemporary furnishings is of quality and complements the earlier church.

The most exceptional feature of the interior is the group of three large and beautifully modelled terracotta reliefs by George Tinworth, the renowned English ceramic artist who worked for the Doulton’s factory in Lambeth from 1867 until his death. George Tinworth is responsible for notable works of architectural significance throughout Europe. St Mark’s is said to be the largest church in the Lichfield Diocese after the cathedral and due to its prominence geographically it is an important local landmark.

It was known as 'the Cathedral of the Potteries'. In addition to the notable Tinworth Reredos, the church includes a considerable number of the Victorian Minton (Minton and Hollins) tiles as would be expected for a Commissioners Church of this kind and period however, perhaps more significantly in this case, those tiles would have been manufactured within a mile of the church and the parishioners of the time would have almost certainly included the people who produced them. As well as these clear links to ceramics and therefore the city in which it proudly sits. Stoke on Trent, known internationally as one of the most significant global powerhouses of ceramic production. The church includes a number of unique features and interesting cultural stories.

Not only is this place significant because of its contents and context, but the stories of those people who were born here, came here, lived here and died here are of equal importance.