Faith that serves its community
At the heart of our parish is a simple conviction: that following Jesus means being genuinely present in the community around us. We are a church — a worshipping family that gathers every Sunday — and we are also a community hub, welcoming hundreds of people through our doors each week who come simply for a café, a film, a yoga class, or a meeting.
St Mark's Church and St Mark's Hall stand side by side in Oliver's Battery — one building, one community. People of all backgrounds, beliefs, and none, are genuinely welcome here. We believe that hospitality, service, and belonging matter — whatever brings you through the door.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience… And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
Colossians 3:12–17
What we stand for
Our parish follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and is a welcoming and lively community. We consider ourselves a faith family that values open-mindedness and open-heartedness.
Rooted in worship, prayer, and fellowship, we celebrate diverse forms of worship happily. We aim to embody love, justice, and service, just as Jesus did — extending a warm welcome to everyone, creating an environment of acceptance, patience, and compassion.
Dedicated to pastoral care and outreach, we actively engage with our congregations and the broader community, positively impacting others through generosity, hospitality, and practical applications of Jesus' teachings.
St Mark's in the community
St Mark's Hall is home to an extraordinary range of community activity every week of the year — open to everyone, regardless of faith or background. Here are just some of the groups and initiatives that call St Mark's home.
And much more besides — St Mark's Hall is also home to yoga classes, Tai Chi, Pilates, keep fit, folk singing, Brownies, a gardening club, and more. See the full list on our What's On page, or find out about hiring the hall for your own group or event.
Leadership
Our parish is led by our Vicar and Curate, supported by the Parochial Church Council.
Marianne Foster
Marianne serves as Vicar of this parish, and also holds a number of wider roles: Assistant Area Dean, Honorary Canon of Winchester Cathedral, Chair of Churches Together in Winchester, and Trustee for the Carroll Centre in Stanmore.
Marianne began training to serve in the church following a career in social work, youth work, pastoral care in schools, writing safeguarding policy, and delivering safeguarding training. She lives in Olivers Battery with her husband Tom and their four children.
Richard Turner
Rich Turner was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England in 2024. After many years feeling called to ordination, he began exploring that calling in 2013 following a prompt from God he couldn't ignore.
Rich is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and, as a Self-Supporting Minister, continues to work in engineering alongside his parish role. He's married with four adult children and moved to the parish in 2016.
Parochial Church Council
The PCC is a team made up of members of clergy and lay members of the church. Together they are responsible for the overall wellbeing — practical as well as spiritual — of their church, the church members, and the church buildings.
The PCC acts as the board of trustees for the parish. Members are elected by the congregation at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
Registered charity: St Luke and St Mark PCC · Charity No. 1174026
Giving
The work of this parish — from Sunday services and the Re.vive Café to pastoral care and community events — is made possible through the generous giving of our congregation and community.
If you'd like to support St Luke's with St Mark's financially, you can give securely online through our Stewardship page. Gifts can be one-off or regular, and Gift Aid can be claimed on eligible donations.
Give online via StewardshipWays to give
The St Luke's Building
St Luke's Church in Stanmore is temporarily closed following professional advice in December 2025 highlighting concerns about water ingress and the condition of the electrical systems. The decision to close was made by the PCC in accordance with best practice, with the safety and wellbeing of parishioners firmly in mind.
During the closure, all worship and parish activities have moved to St Mark's Church, Oliver's Battery. While the closure is temporary, the PCC recognises that returning to the building in its current condition may not be feasible, and is actively exploring the long-term future of the site.
Work is underway to explore future possibilities for a renewed church and community hub — and the PCC is approaching this with faith, imagination, and hope.
"Our priority is always the safety and care of everyone who uses our buildings. While the temporary closure of St Luke's is a significant moment for our parish, we are approaching it with faith, unity, and hope."
Revd. Marianne Foster, Vicar
St Luke's Church
Stanmore
Winchester
SO22 4BX
Currently closed
All services at St Mark's, Oliver's Battery
The PCC will keep the community updated as plans for the site develop.
Want to find out more?
Whether you're thinking about coming to a service, hiring the hall, or just want to say hello — we'd love to hear from you.