One of the most fascinating activities you can undertake in London is to visit one or more of its famous churches.
One of the most fascinating activities you can undertake in London is to visit one or more of its famous churches.
My wife and I have had the privilege of touring a number of the great and the small ones, and I should like to outline a few of my favourites on this page. The larger ones are world famous tourist attractions, but the smaller ones have a grace and dignity all their own. Don't be afraid to stray off the beaten path a little.
The Divine Abbey- what can I possibly say to add to its reputation? It's a pantheon of kings and queens, and the resting place of a saint (Edward the Confessor). It holds within its walls the tombs of the Unknown Warrior, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Lloyd George, and features the Poets' Corner where Ben Jonson, Rudyard Kipling, and Chaucer rest in peace.
In addition the Abbey features breathtaking Gothic architecture, an historic cloister, and more Royal history than one can absorb in one visit.
Recently it has become necessary for the Church authorities to restrict the numbers of tourists visiting Westminster Abbey, to charge an admission fee and to funnel visitors in through the north entrance. Unfortunately, the sacred building was being used as a waiting room for hordes of European tourists taking the Eurotunnel train to Paris. In the process the prayerful atmosphere of the Abbey was being destroyed and the Rector had to do something to restore it.
In addition the Abbey has become a hot tourist spot because of the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. Scores of curious souls come in looking for Elton John's piano. (It is not there, sorry!)
This admission charge and crowd control means that the lineups to get in have lengthened considerably and this could be frustrating if you are on a tight schedule. The wait will be worth it, but if you can go in the afternoon after the legions of buses have departed for the Tower of London.
If you want to get away from the crowds, visit the pretty little St. Margaret's Church next door to the Abbey. Sir Winston Churchill was married there. Sir Walter Raleigh is buried in front of the altar - minus his head of course!
Christopher Wren's greatest work, featuring carvings by Grinling Gibbons, boasting an organ played by Handel, symbol of the Passion of London during the Blitz - St Paul's is all this, and a bag of chips besides!
It's BIG - St Paul's dome dominates the City skyline and its sheer size dwarfs all the other buildings for blocks around it. It was the only venue large enough for Charles and Diana's wedding. As a sight to see it should not be missed.
The crypt contains the tombs of the poet John Donne (he was there before the great fire destroyed old St Paul's in 1666), Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and of course Wren himself.
If you feel particularly energetic walk up the steps to the Whispering Gallery. Here you can hear whispers from the other side of the dome, as clearly as if you were standing next to the person doing the whispering. Of course, these days there's a polyglot of whispering going on, so it's a bit harder to make it out! Next, climb up some more stairs inside the space between the inner and outer dome. Note the brick cone Wren used to hold up the outer one. Finally you arrive at the Stone Gallery - an outside walkway that affords spectacular views of London. You can continue climbing up to view the lantern at the top of the dome if you want.
St. Paul's was damaged by the Blitz in World War II, but many architects believe that the chain Wren used to hold the dome together at its base gave the building some flexibility that prevented its collapse from the shock of so many bombs striking nearby.
The classical architecture of this church has made it one of London's favorites, and has served as inspiration for architects of many North American houses of prayer. St. Martin's has a lovely interior with a barrel vaulted roof and rich guilding. It is a site for classical concerts, occasionally by the Academy which bears its name. The church also has a brass rubbing centre and a cafe in the crypt.
St. Martin in the Fields has had an outreach program to the homeless for over 80 years, and continues to offer warmth and shelter to them.
You can visit the St. Martin in the Fields Web Site to learn more about this wonderful church.
This is a very old church with a very New Age feel. It's one of Wren's designs to replace a building destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. It is located on busy Piccadilly, just a few steps from Piccadilly Circus. The interior of the church is bright and breezy, with potted vines on the windowsills. It is a centre for Creation Spirituality and wholistic religion, and one might easily label it as a "low Church" sort of place. When we visited a wonderful youth choir was using the church to practice, and it was delightful to hear.
St. James has a rollicking antique and flea market going full blast on Tuesdays as well.
If you decide to visit Christopher Wren's Monument to the Great Fire of London, just walk down to the Thames and on the way visit this lovely little church.
It is a classic Anglo Catholic church, with a tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament, a sanctuary lamp and a very traditional feel about it. Roman Catholics will feel very much at home here.
The contrast with St. James is striking! St. Magnus has a wonderful sense of peace and tranquility. If you want somewhere to pray, this would be the one I should choose. It's off the beaten path, but well worth a look.
St. Mary-le-Bow has a surprising combination of modern and ancient in its interior, which is one of the most tranquil and sublime we visited. In the crypt is a fabulous vegetarian restaurant called "The Place Below." We have visited it every time we were in the neighborhood. The desserts are terrific - just watch out for the clotted cream on the apple crumble!
The terraced steeple on this church is rumored to have inspired the design of the wedding cake, but St. Bride's is actually named after St. Bridget - an Irish abbess.
It's just off busy Fleet Street and is the journalists' church. Samuel Pepys was a parishoner. The interior is bright and airy and beautifully decorated. It's an oasis of peace in the midst of hustle and bustle.
The crypt houses a museum of the church's history and the original Roman paving can be seen there, if it's open. Unfortunately, they have recently had a fire down there and it's closed until further notice. St. Bride's is still worth a visit, though.
This page last modified on June 19, 2001.
