Bestwood Village St Mark

Features and Fittings

Font

The font is five sided and made of oak, it stands 36 inches high and is 31 inches across at the top tapering down to 24 inches, it is lead-lined with a drainage hole. It is free standing and can be moved to any point in the church. On one face is a square cross with scrolled ends, the other four sides being plain. Just beneath the top rim and starting on the face with the cross is the following inscription:

THE SPIRIT OF GOD: HATH MADE ME: AND THE BREATH: OF GOD ALMIGHTY: HATH GIVEN ME LIFE

The font was presented for the opening of the church by the manager of Bestwood Colliery, Mr M Wolstenholme.

Pulpit

The pulpit is of oak and is accessed from the chancel. It is an integral part of the chancel which is raised up three steps and projects out into the nave. On the two sides facing the congregation is the following text:

HE THAT HATH MY WORD LET: HIM SPEAK MY WORD FAITHFULLY

The pulpit was presented for the opening by Mr John Lancaster who was the Chairman of the Bestwood Coal and Iron Company.

Lectern with
Miner’s Prayer
beside

Lectern

The lectern is also of oak and as with the pulpit is also accessed from the chancel. On the front is the following text:

BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD

The lectern was presented for the opening by the Ironworks manager, Mr Andrew Crawford.

Miner’s Lamp and Prayer

To the right of the lectern, hanging beneath a wooden canopy is a miners lamp and beneath it on a board the miner’s prayer:

O God Our Heavenly Father

we beseech Thee to hear us

on behalf of all the miners

of this land, and especially

in this our own parish;

that it may please Thee to

comfort, sustain, protect and

support them

Bring them, O God, to

their homes once more in

peace and safety; through

Jesus Christ, our Lord

Amen.

Brass Vases

Two brass vases with the following inscriptions:

In memory of BERTRAM A HILL M.A. RECTOR OF BESTWOOD 1932-1937

Twenty pounds was collected some years ago for a memorial to the late Reverend B A Hill. After considerable discussion it was decided to purchase four brass vases, two for the parish church and two for St Mark’s, and to have these suitably inscribed as above. In June 1949 the vases were purchased from Messrs F Osbourne & Co Ltd. The total cost of the vases and the inscribing was £24 6s 8d and a grant from the Scout fund had been received to make up the deficit.

Reading Stand

This reading stand is made of oak by a Bulwell man as a memorial. An inscription reads

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ANNIE ROBINSON 1900-1983

On the upright just above the base is a wooden mouse head facing downwards. This reading stand was provided by still very active members of the family, June and Nell Robinson. The stand was made by company called Ronaldo’s Wood Carvers of Bulwell, with showrooms at 10a Strelley Street Bulwell.

Processional Cross

The text below the brass cross reads:

PRESENTED TO BESTWOOD PARK PARISH 1957

Table

In front of the Miners’ prayer is a table with the following inscription:

PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BESTWOOD BRANCH OF THE MOTHERS UNION NOV 1931

Flower Stand

A flower stand has the following inscription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MR AND MRS L. STAPLETON AND LAURENCE IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING

Music Cupboard

Close by the organ an inscription reads:

IN MEMORY OF ALBERT SNOOK CHURCH COUNCILLOR AND ORGANIST

Cupboard

A cupboard at the entrance to the church has an inscription which reads:

PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE BESTWOOD BRANCH OF THE MOTHERS UNION 1935

Bibles

There are three bibles of note:

The first embossed on the front cover:

BESTWOOD CHURCH 1870, PRESENTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE 1847

The second, inscribed on a panel inside the front cover:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE MEMORY OF THE REVD. B.A. HILL M.A. RECTOR OF THIS PARISH APRIL 1932- NOVEMBER 1937

This bible was presented by The Bestwood Mothers union.

The third bible has on a panel inside the front cover:

PARISH OF BESTWOOD PARK. TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF ARCHIBALD STEWART HAWTHORNE M.A. CANTAB. PRINCIPLE CHAPLAIN TO THE DUKE OF ST. ALBAN’S AND RECTOR OF THIS PARISH 1885-1911, WHO DIED FEBRUARY 27TH 1940 AGED 85 YEARS

The Bible was presented by his sister Edith Mary Linley June 1st 1940.

The east end
with chancel
and sanctuary

Chancel

Three steps take you into the chancel which projects forward into the nave, at the top of the steps you pass through an oak arch surmounted by a cross, the pulpit and lectern both of oak are both accessed from this raised chancel. All furnishing are linked together with a low oak panelled partition with an ironwork top, linking in with the banister up the steps.

Sanctuary

Lettering on the sanctuary arch reads:

IN THIS PLACE WILL I GIVE PEACE

The sanctuary floor has decorated tiles with an inscription:

PERFECT CHARITY WITH ALL MEN

Entrance Porch

Incorporated into the upper hinge on the south facing outer door is the date 1887, on the upper hinge on the north facing outer door is AD.