When Sir George Talbot brought his two daughters Georgina and Mary Anne to Bournemouth on holiday they were shocked by the poverty of the local people. The Enclosure Act of 1882 had recently abolished the traditional right to free grazing game and fuel. To alleviate this poverty the two sisters sold property that they had inherited in London and in 1850 began to buy land for their concept of a model community. They planned to have six farms, seven almshouses a school a church and nineteen cottages each with a well, an acre of land and heath land nearby with free grazing rights. the area was named “Talbot Village”
In 1870 the Church of St. Mark was consecrated but sadly the first service thereafter was the funeral of Georgina Talbot. her sister Mary Anne was left to finish the work.
In 1970 a porch was added this gave extra
seating prior to the new extension.
By 1986 a major extension was required. The new design was in keeping with the old and was built northwards from the original church and incorporated the chancel as a chapel. The new memorial window, the warmth of the timbered roof and the gleaming brass of the chandeliers with tiers of sparkling globes are an inspiration to worshippers. Again the Trustees of the Talbot family were benefactors but local people worked hard to make a substantial contribution
In 1992 again with help from the Trustees and a tremendous effort on the part of the congregation we were able to open this new hall with it’s link to the Church. This has enabled us to expand and enlarge our mission of service to the people of Talbot Village and beyond.
