St Mark’s is the Anglican, Church of England Chaplaincy in the heart of Florence. We are here to serve all English-speaking people in Tuscany and Emilia Romagna.  

The Church, by definition, consists of people from every race and background, and Florence, as a popular destination for tourists and students, is a wonderful place to experience the diversity of this worldwide community.

We meet every Sunday at 10.30am for Choral Eucharist and serve refreshments afterwards for those who can stay. About once a month we have a bring-and-share lunch afterwards, too.

While you’re here, why not check out the social and cultural events which take place in the church building? These range from regular operas (starting again in April), the Florence Writers Group and Mindfulness Class.

Whether you live in Florence or are passing through for a few days or a few months, you will always find a warm welcome at St Mark’s.

Rev’d Chris 

Chaplain

St Mark’s, Florence and Holy Cross, Bologna

CHRISTMAS IS COMING …

 ADVENT COURSE  19.30 every Thursday  30 Nov -21 Dec Come and watch The BBC drama, ‘The Nativity’ and have discussion afterwards with aperitivo.

WREATH MAKING  Wed 13 Dec 19.00  Come along and make a Festive Christmas Wreath to hang in your house, or to give as a present. All materials supplied. €10 per person (including aperitivo). Contact administrator@stmarksitaly.com

NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS  Sun 17 Dec 18.00  Come and join this service to hear the choir led by Mark Spyropoulos, as well as joining in singing together those well-known carols from our childhood. Also, celebrating with Christingles: a candle-lit moment to remember!

CAROL SINGING IN THE OLTRARNO Wed 20 Dec at 18.30 (near the stops of Santo Spirto church)        Wrap up warm, bring a torch/mobile phone/ candle in a jar, and join us in singing our old Christmas favourites. Let’s make a joyful noise! Everyone is welcome.

CHRISTMAS EVE Choral Eucharist 10.30  Our usual 10.30am service followed by refreshments.

Midnight Mass at 23.30  Come along to sing and celebrate the first Eucharist of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS DAY Christmas Eucharist 25 Dec 10.30  Bring a present to show what Father Christmas has brought you as we celebrate together. CONTACT: administrator@stmarksitaly.com

WE HAVE A SERVICE EVERY SUNDAY AT 10.30 ALL YEAR ROUND!

Remembrance day – 12th November

On Sunday 12th November, there will be an Act of Remembrance within our 10.30 Choral Eucharist Service, at St Mark’s.

There will also be a short Act of Remembrance at the Florence War Cemetery, which has 1.632 burials of Commonwealth soldiers, killed in and around Florence, in the Second World War.

This service starts at 3pm on 12th November, and if you want to join us, we are catching the number 14 bus from Santa Maria Maggiore at 13.43. Hopefully we’ll be early enough to grab a coffee at the Circolo Arci Il Girone, beforehand.

ALL SOULS SERVICE – THURSDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

All our welcome to come to a quiet and reflective service on Thursday 2nd Nov at 7pm, where we remember those who have died, and light candles in their memory. If you wish the name of a loved one to be read out, and a candle lit in their memory, please write to our administator at administator@stmarlksitaly.com

FIACCOLATA PER LA PACE – TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION FOR PEACE

Tonight there was a passionate exhortation by Father Bernardo, for peace. Standing with the Imam, Rabbi and Mayor of Florence, along with thousands of people of many faiths and none, each holding aloft, lights of hope and peace. We walked from Ponte all Grazia up to San Miniato al Monte.

No flags, no politics, no slogans, just people and their small lights of hope.

Thank you, Florence!

EXCITING NEWS! WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AT ST MARK’S

Mark Spryopoulos has been appointed as our new Director of Music.

Mark studied music at Trinity College, Dublin and singing at Guildhall School of Music and Drama before embarking on a career in opera and choral music. In 2015 he became the first British singer to join the Papal Choir of the Sistine Chapel where he sang for five years as both soloist and chorister. He has recoded four albums for Deutsche Grammophon and starred in the 2018 BBC documentary Inside the Vatican. He moved to Florence in 2019 to establish the Sacred Music research programme at the Medici Archive Project which he now runs in collaboration with the Masacrade Foundation. He is the director of both the professional ensemble, Vox Medicea, and the Florence Choral Course – a summer, week-long programme offering advanced choral training for aspiring professional choral singers.

Come along on Sunday 15th October at 10.30am for our Choral Eucharist to worship with us and meet him.

Monday 16th October St Mark’s English Church at 7.30pm  – Free entry with a retiring collection.

Jazz at St Mark’s – Come and have a great evening listening to Phelan and Federico. You won’t be disappointed!

Recent Events:

OUR ‘NEW’  ORGAN FROM CORNWALL

The culmination of seven years of blood sweat and tears: our ‘new’ organ has now arrived at St Mark’s from Cornwall, UK. The pic shows only fraction of the carnage in the church, and David Elliott, who has overseen the project from the beginning, now has the unenviable task of putting it all together again. Before that, he will be spending some time tomorrow creating space for the opera which is performing tomorrow evening!

Crowns & Gowns Concert 

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UK Trivia Night 

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