St Mark's Church - Ten Mile Bank     Ten Mile Bank Primary School CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE Tuesday 16th December 2008 at 6.00pm Everyone Welcome   Situated on the west bank of the River Great Ouse at Ten Mile Bank, St. Mark's Church was built by the Reverend WJ Parkes between1846 and1847. It is a fascinating building and a great survivor of an early example of the Gothic Revival in the Tractarian tradition. It is very little altered externally and provides the same vista to the passer-by as it did in 1846. It has a very fine interior, displaying an almost completely unaltered arrangement of an early Tractarian church, with the clarity of the 1846 pulpit, the wall panelling and the beautiful poppy head pew-ends. In 2002, the church was closed due to subsidence but the local community is working hard to save it and it is now listed as a Grade 2 building of historical interest. A dedicated group of local people has raised over £35,000 and English Heritage have provided a further £245,000. However, more funds are needed to complete the restoration and the group is busy organising events to raise more. In February 2008, a further grant of £6,500 was received from the National Churches Trust. For more information on this organisation, visit   www.nationalchurchestrust.org  The external work was completed by 25th July 2008 and celebrated by the first bell-ringing since 1934 The interior has now been completed and a Christmas service, the first service since restoration was held on Sunday 14th December 2008. The official opening date, in 2009, will be announced soon. A further £11,000 is needed to complete the restoration. If you are interested in helping with fund raising , please contact Sandra Starling on 01366 377210