St Mary the Virgin, Maldon, and Mark Angus

St Mary’s Church, Maldon is now and has been throughout its history a beacon for the town’s community and visitors. Known as the Fishermen’s Church its tower guides many sailors and their craft into the Hythe.

Maldon, an ancient and historic town lying at the head of the Blackwater Estuary, is a small market town 40 miles east of London and a short distance from the cathedral city of Chelmsford. St. Mary’s parish covers the southern and eastern part of the town. St Mary’s Church is an 11th century Grade 1 listed building with a closed churchyard. The fishermen’s church stands above The Hythe overlooking the River Blackwater acting as a beacon to incoming shipping.

With its flint-rubble walls and impressive tower, it remains an interesting and attractive landmark in Maldon. A stained glass window by Mark Angus was installed in the south wall of the church for the 8th August 1991 to commemorate the Battle of Maldon in AD 991. A statue of the defeated Saxon leader Byrhtnoth stands at the end of the Promenade over the River Blackwater, where he lost his life in an attempt to stop the Viking invasion.

Since 1978 Mark Angus has gained his reputation in Britain and Europe for his expressive stained glass art, and especially in architecture, with windows for churches and cathedrals as well as for other public and private spaces. Important examples include complete schemes for Oundle School, Spinkhill Parish Church, Berkhampstead School, and Perth Baptist Church (all UK), and St. Raymund Parish Church in Breitenberg near Passau (Germany), and windows for the cathedrals of Durham and Guildford (UK). More recently comprehensive schemes for St. Fintan’s Church, Raheen (Ireland), St. Mary’s Church, Sheffield (UK), and for St. Ursula’s Hospice, Niederalteich (Germany).

Whilst retaining an interest in church stained glass, and in glass painting generally, present interests move towards acrylic painting, and printmaking, especially vitreography, together with artist’s books. Vitreography is a technique where prints are created from glass sheets, resulting in images of great light and subtlety. Predominant in Mark Angus’ imaginative narratives are the figure, dialogue and interaction, and the human self in space. Combined with letterpress Mark Angus is working on making unique artist’s books and prints.

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Deacon Blue - Dignity.