Church of St Mark, Broomhill, Sheffield

The Church of St Mark stands in Broomhill, a suburb of Sheffield in South Yorkshire. It serves the combined parishes of Broomhill and Broomhall, created after two nearby churches closed. The first church on the site was a temporary iron structure built in 1854 with money from steelmaker William Butcher. A permanent stone church in Gothic Revival style, designed by William Henry Crossland, replaced it in 1871. This building was badly damaged during the Sheffield Blitz in 1940, leaving only the tower and porch standing. Architect George Pace was asked to restore the tower and rebuild the church in a modern style. His design kept the old tower while creating a new church in reinforced concrete with narrow rectangular windows. Nikolaus Pevsner praised the way Pace combined old and new elements without copying either. The nave and chancel follow an organic polygonal plan, with white walls and a roof open to the rafters. The nave is lit by clear-glazed windows, and the organ case sits in the north east corner. The east window, by Harry Stammers, shows Christ in Majesty surrounded by saints and nature. John Piper’s west window uses fiery colours to represent Pentecost, echoing the fire that destroyed the earlier church. A side chapel contains abstract windows by Gillian Rees-Thomas. The church also hosts regular services, including a monthly LGBTQIA service and an annual Big Queer Carol service.