St Martin-in-the-Fields
Encyclopedia
St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican
church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square
in the City of Westminster
, London
. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours
.
Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410. The site is outside the city limits of Roman London (as was the usual Roman practice for burials) but is particularly interesting for being so far outside, and this is leading to a reappraisal of Westminster's importance at that time. The burial is thought by some to mark a Christian centre of that time (possibly reusing the site or building of a pagan temple).
as to who had control over it. It was decided in favour of Westminster, and used by the monks of Westminster Abbey
.
The church was rebuilt by Henry VIII
in 1542 to avoid plague victims from the area having to pass through his Palace of Whitehall
. At this time, it was literally "in the fields" in an isolated position between the cities of Westminster and London
.
A number of notables were buried in this phase of the church, including Robert Boyle
and Nell Gwynne.
By the reign of James I the church was becoming inadequate for the congregation, due to the great increase in population in the area. In 1606 the king granted an acre of ground on the west side of St. Martin's Lane for a new churchyard, and the church was enlarged. Later in the seventeenth century, galleries were added, and the creation of the new parishes of St Anne, Soho, and St James, Piccadilly, and the opening of a chapel in Oxenden Street relieved some of the pressure on space.
A survey of 1710 found that the walls and roof were in a state of decay. In 1 720, an act was passed for the rebuilding of the church allowing for a sum of up to £22,000, to be raised by a rate on the parishioners. A temporary church was erected partly on the churchyard and partly on ground in Lancaster Court. Advertisements were placed in the newspapers that bodies and monuments of those buried in the church or churchyard could be taken away for reinterment by relatives.
The rebuilding commissioners selected James Gibbs to design the new church. His first suggestion was for a church with a circular nave and a domed ceiling; . this was considered too expensive, and Gibbs then produced a simpler rectilinear plan, which was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on 19 March, 1722, and the last stone of the spire was placed in position in December 1724. The total cost was £33,661 including the architect's fees.
The west front of the St Martin’s has a portico with a pediment supported by a giant order of Corinthian columns, six wide. The order is continued around the church by pilasters. In designing the church, Gibbs was influenced by the works of Christopher Wren
, but departed from Wren’s practice in his integration of the tower into the church. Rather than considering it as an adjunct to the main body of the building, he constructed it within its west wall, so that it rises above the roof, immediately behind the portico, an arrangement previously used by John James at St George, Hanover Square (1712-24)<, though James’ steeple was much less ambitious. (1712-24). The spire of of St Martin’s rises 192 feet above the level of the church floor.
The church is rectangular in plan, with the five-bay nave divided from the aisles by arcades of Corinthian columns. There are galleries over both aisles and at the west end. The nave ceiling is a flattened barrel vault, divided into panels by ribs. The panels are decorated with cherubs, clouds, shells, and scroll work, by Giuseppe Artari and Bagutti.
Until the creation of Trafalgar Square in the 1820s, Gibbs’s church was crowded in by other buildings. J.P. Malcolm, writing in 1807, said that the its west front “would have a grand effect if the execrable watch-house and sheds before it were removed” and described the sides of the church as “lost in courts, where houses approach them almost to contact“.
The design was criticised widely at the time, but subsequently became extremely famous, being copied particularly widely in the United States
. St Andrews Church, Egmore, Chennai is a copy of this church.
Various 18th-century notables were soon buried in the new church, including the émigré sculptor Roubiliac
(who had settled in this area of London) and the furniture-maker Thomas Chippendale
(whose workshop was in the same street as the church, St Martin's Lane), along with Jack Sheppard
in the now lost adjoining churchyard.
The church also had its own almhouses and pension-charity, which was established on 21 Sep 1886. Its 19 trustees administered almshouses for women, providing them with a weekly stipend. The almshouses were built in 1818 on part of the parish burial ground in Camden Town
and St Pancras
and replaced ones built in 1683.
The church has a close relationship with the Royal Family
, whose parish church it is, as well as with 10 Downing Street
and the Admiralty
.
Because of its prominent position, St Martin-in-the-Fields is one of the most famous non-cathedral churches in London. Its ethos as the "Church of the Ever Open Door" (a title coined by Dick Sheppard
, Vicar
in the early 20th century when the work with homeless people was started) continues today, even though it is not possible for it literally to be the case. It is famous for its work with homeless people through The Connection at St Martin's which shares with The Vicar's Relief Fund the money raised each year by the BBC
Radio 4 Appeal
's Christmas appeal. The church is also known for its regular lunchtime and evening concerts: many ensemble
s perform there, including the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which was co-founded by Sir Neville Marriner
and John Churchill, a former Master of Music at St Martin's.
There is a popular café in the crypt, where jazz
concerts are held. All profits from this go to the work of the church. The crypt is also home to the London Brass Rubbing
Centre, an art gallery and a book and gift shop.
In January 2006 work began on a £36-million renewal project. The project included renewing the church itself, as well as provision of facilities encompassing the church's crypt, a row of buildings to the north and some significant new underground spaces in between. The funding included a grant of £15.35 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund
. The church and crypt reopened in the summer of 2008. As part of the public fundraising, it is possible to sponsor a pane of glass and 'give light to St Martin's'.
Twelve historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields are included in the peal of the Swan Bells
tower in Perth, Western Australia
.
. The school flourished in what was a populous, fast-growing parish. It was relocated to its present Lambeth
site in 1928.
The school badge depicts the eponymous St Martin of Tours. The school's Latin
motto Caritate et disciplina translates as "With love and learning". The school is Christian but accepts girls of all faiths.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
in the City of Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
.
Roman era
Medieval and Tudor
The earliest extant reference to the church is from 1222, with a dispute between the Abbot of Westminster and the Bishop of LondonBishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
as to who had control over it. It was decided in favour of Westminster, and used by the monks of Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
.
The church was rebuilt by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
in 1542 to avoid plague victims from the area having to pass through his Palace of Whitehall
Palace of Whitehall
The Palace of Whitehall was the main residence of the English monarchs in London from 1530 until 1698 when all except Inigo Jones's 1622 Banqueting House was destroyed by fire...
. At this time, it was literally "in the fields" in an isolated position between the cities of Westminster and London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
A number of notables were buried in this phase of the church, including Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
and Nell Gwynne.
Present church
A survey of 1710 found that the walls and roof were in a state of decay. In 1 720, an act was passed for the rebuilding of the church allowing for a sum of up to £22,000, to be raised by a rate on the parishioners. A temporary church was erected partly on the churchyard and partly on ground in Lancaster Court. Advertisements were placed in the newspapers that bodies and monuments of those buried in the church or churchyard could be taken away for reinterment by relatives.
The rebuilding commissioners selected James Gibbs to design the new church. His first suggestion was for a church with a circular nave and a domed ceiling; . this was considered too expensive, and Gibbs then produced a simpler rectilinear plan, which was accepted. The foundation stone was laid on 19 March, 1722, and the last stone of the spire was placed in position in December 1724. The total cost was £33,661 including the architect's fees.
The west front of the St Martin’s has a portico with a pediment supported by a giant order of Corinthian columns, six wide. The order is continued around the church by pilasters. In designing the church, Gibbs was influenced by the works of Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
, but departed from Wren’s practice in his integration of the tower into the church. Rather than considering it as an adjunct to the main body of the building, he constructed it within its west wall, so that it rises above the roof, immediately behind the portico, an arrangement previously used by John James at St George, Hanover Square (1712-24)<, though James’ steeple was much less ambitious. (1712-24). The spire of of St Martin’s rises 192 feet above the level of the church floor.
The church is rectangular in plan, with the five-bay nave divided from the aisles by arcades of Corinthian columns. There are galleries over both aisles and at the west end. The nave ceiling is a flattened barrel vault, divided into panels by ribs. The panels are decorated with cherubs, clouds, shells, and scroll work, by Giuseppe Artari and Bagutti.
Until the creation of Trafalgar Square in the 1820s, Gibbs’s church was crowded in by other buildings. J.P. Malcolm, writing in 1807, said that the its west front “would have a grand effect if the execrable watch-house and sheds before it were removed” and described the sides of the church as “lost in courts, where houses approach them almost to contact“.
The design was criticised widely at the time, but subsequently became extremely famous, being copied particularly widely in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. St Andrews Church, Egmore, Chennai is a copy of this church.
Various 18th-century notables were soon buried in the new church, including the émigré sculptor Roubiliac
Louis-François Roubiliac
Louis-François Roubiliac was a French sculptor who worked in England, one of the four most prominent sculptors in London working in the rococo style, "probably the most accomplished sculptor ever to work in England", according to Margaret Whinney.-Works:Roubiliac was largely employed for portrait...
(who had settled in this area of London) and the furniture-maker Thomas Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale was a London cabinet-maker and furniture designer in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. In 1754 he published a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director...
(whose workshop was in the same street as the church, St Martin's Lane), along with Jack Sheppard
Jack Sheppard
Jack Sheppard was a notorious English robber, burglar and thief of early 18th-century London. Born into a poor family, he was apprenticed as a carpenter but took to theft and burglary in 1723, with little more than a year of his training to complete...
in the now lost adjoining churchyard.
The church also had its own almhouses and pension-charity, which was established on 21 Sep 1886. Its 19 trustees administered almshouses for women, providing them with a weekly stipend. The almshouses were built in 1818 on part of the parish burial ground in Camden Town
Camden Town
-Economy:In recent years, entertainment-related businesses and a Holiday Inn have moved into the area. A number of retail and food chain outlets have replaced independent shops driven out by high rents and redevelopment. Restaurants have thrived, with the variety of culinary traditions found in...
and St Pancras
St Pancras, London
St Pancras is an area of London. For many centuries the name has been used for various officially-designated areas, but now is used informally and rarely having been largely superseded by several other names for overlapping districts.-Ancient parish:...
and replaced ones built in 1683.
The church has a close relationship with the Royal Family
British monarchy
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
, whose parish church it is, as well as with 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
and the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
Recent times
Hugh Richard Lawrie Sheppard
Hugh Richard Lawrie "Dick" Sheppard was an English Anglican priest, Dean of Canterbury and pacifist....
, Vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in the early 20th century when the work with homeless people was started) continues today, even though it is not possible for it literally to be the case. It is famous for its work with homeless people through The Connection at St Martin's which shares with The Vicar's Relief Fund the money raised each year by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Radio 4 Appeal
Radio 4 Appeal
The Radio 4 Appeal is a British radio programme on BBC Radio 4. Each week a single speaker, usually a celebrity, appeals for support for a different charity . Listeners are invited to respond by sending cheques using a Freepost address, or can make payments online or by telephone...
's Christmas appeal. The church is also known for its regular lunchtime and evening concerts: many ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
s perform there, including the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, which was co-founded by Sir Neville Marriner
Neville Marriner
Sir Neville Marriner is an English conductor and violinist.-Biography:Marriner was born in Lincoln and studied at the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He played the violin in the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Martin String Quartet and London Symphony Orchestra, playing with the...
and John Churchill, a former Master of Music at St Martin's.
There is a popular café in the crypt, where jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
concerts are held. All profits from this go to the work of the church. The crypt is also home to the London Brass Rubbing
Brass rubbing
Brass rubbing was originally a largely British enthusiasm for reproducing onto paper monumental brasses – commemorative brass plaques found in churches, usually originally on the floor, from between the 13th and 16th centuries. The concept of recording textures of things is more generally called...
Centre, an art gallery and a book and gift shop.
In January 2006 work began on a £36-million renewal project. The project included renewing the church itself, as well as provision of facilities encompassing the church's crypt, a row of buildings to the north and some significant new underground spaces in between. The funding included a grant of £15.35 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
. The church and crypt reopened in the summer of 2008. As part of the public fundraising, it is possible to sponsor a pane of glass and 'give light to St Martin's'.
Twelve historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields are included in the peal of the Swan Bells
Swan Bells
The Swan Bells are a set of eighteen bells hanging in a specially built -high copper and glass campanile, commonly known as The Bell Tower or the Swan Bell Tower, in Perth, Western Australia...
tower in Perth, Western Australia
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
List of organists
Organists include:- John WeldonJohn Weldon (musician)John Weldon was an English composer.Born at Chichester in the south of England, he was educated at Eton, where he was a chorister, and later received musical instruction from Henry Purcell...
1714–1736 - Joseph Kelway 1736–1781 (formerly organist of St Michael, CornhillSt Michael, CornhillSt Michael, Cornhill is a medieval parish church in the City of London with pre-Norman Conquest parochial foundation. The medieval structure was lost in the Great Fire of London and the current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670-1677....
) - Benjamin CookeBenjamin CookeBenjamin Cooke was an English composer, organist and teacher.Cooke was born in London and named after his father, a music publisher based in Covent Garden...
1781–1793 - Robert Cooke 1793–1814 (son of Benjamin CookeBenjamin CookeBenjamin Cooke was an English composer, organist and teacher.Cooke was born in London and named after his father, a music publisher based in Covent Garden...
) - Thomas Forbes Gerrard Walmisley 1814–1854?
- William Thomas BestWilliam Thomas BestWilliam Thomas Best was an English organist.The son of a solicitor, he was born at Carlisle. Having decided on a musical career, he became a pupil of the cathedral organist. He became particularly skilled in the interpretation of Bach's music...
1852–1855? - Martin ShawMartin Shaw (composer)Martin Edward Fallas Shaw OBE, FRCM, DMus was an English composer, conductor and theatre producer...
1920–1924 - Arnold Goldsborough 1924–1935
- John Alden 1935-1938
- Stanley Drummond Wolff 1938–1946
- John Churchill 1949 – 1967
- Christopher Stokes
- Paul Stubbings
- Nick Danks 2001–2008
- Andrew Earis 2009 –
St Martin's school
In 1699 the church (which was controlled by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) founded a school for poor and less fortunate boys, which later became a girls' school. The school was originally in Charing Cross Road, near the church. It was known as St Martin’s Middle Class School for Girls, latterly known as St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for GirlsSt Martin-In-The-Fields High School for Girls
St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for Girls is one of the oldest schools for girls in Britain. It was established in 1699 as a charitable enterprise by the parish of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Its popularity and growth led to its relocation in 1928 on a larger site in Tulse Hill, in the South...
. The school flourished in what was a populous, fast-growing parish. It was relocated to its present Lambeth
London Borough of Lambeth
The London Borough of Lambeth is a London borough in south London, England and forms part of Inner London. The local authority is Lambeth London Borough Council.-Origins:...
site in 1928.
The school badge depicts the eponymous St Martin of Tours. The school's Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto Caritate et disciplina translates as "With love and learning". The school is Christian but accepts girls of all faiths.
External links
- St Martin-in-the-Fields website
- Connection at St Martin's website
- Give Light to St Martin's Campaign Appeal
- Roman occupation of church site
- Mystery Worshipper Report at the Ship of Fools websiteShip of Fools (website)Ship of Fools is a UK-based Christian website. It was first launched as a magazine in 1977. The magazine folded in 1983 and was resurrected as a website on April Fool's Day, 1998. Subtitled "the magazine of Christian unrest", Ship of Fools pokes fun and asks critical questions about the Christian...
- Deanery of Westminster (St Margaret)