Opened 1845 | Dedication St Mark Phone +44 1922 414309 | |
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Website www.greatwyrleyparish.org.uk Consecrated 22 July 1845 (1845-07-22) Architectural style English Gothic architecture Similar Hurst Spit, Coronation Chair, Kinniside Stone Circle | ||
St Marks's is the parish church of Great Wyrley, South Staffordshire, England. It is known for having had the first South Asian vicar of any Church of England parish, Shapurji Edalji, and for its association with Edalji's son George, who was falsely convicted on a charge of injuring a pony, and cleared after the intervention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
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History
The stone church, in early English style, its vicarage and an adjacent school were built in 1845 to designs by the architect Thomas Johnson of Lichfield and consecrated on Tuesday 22 July 1845 by John Lonsdale, Bishop of Lichfield.
The church's early baptism, marriage and burial registers are held by Staffordshire Records Office, the Bishops' transcripts at Lichfield Records Office.
The Edaljis
Shapurji Edalji was given the 'living' as vicar of St Mark's by Lonsdale's successor George Selwyn. Edalji obtained the position though the previous incumbent, his wife's uncle, who arranged it as a wedding present. 'Livings' were scarce, conferred valuable emoluments and were much sought after.
Edalji moved into the vicarage, a large house with its own grounds, in late 1875; George, the first child, was born there soon after. The Reverend Edaji was more assertive than his predecessor and was sometimes involved in controversy about parish business.
Edalji senior died at the vicarage in 1918 and is buried in the churchyard.
Current activity
The church and its neighbour, the parish's other CoE church, St Andrew's, Landywood are managed in tandem.
There is a church hall adjacent to the church.
As of March 2015 the vicar is the Revd. Graham Horner.
Organ
The church has a pipe organ by Nicholson dating from 2000, an earlier organ having been damaged by fire. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.