St George the Martyr, Holborn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St George the Martyr Holborn
Location	Queen Square, London
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
Churchmanship	Low Church
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	24 October 1951
Architect(s)	Arthur Tooley, John Buonarotti Papworth, Samuel Sanders Teulon
Years built	1703
Administration
Parish	Holborn St George
Archdeaconry	Hampstead
Diocese	London

St George the Martyr Holborn is an Anglican church in London. It stands at the south end of Queen Square, in an area called Holborn in the London Borough of Camden. The church is named after Saint George.

It was first called "St George the Martyr" to tell it apart from a nearby church, St. George's Bloomsbury. Both churches once shared a burial ground, which is now St George's Gardens. While its official name is still St George the Martyr, many people today simply call it St George's Holborn.

History of St George's Holborn

The church was built between 1703 and 1706 by Arthur Tooley. It started as a "chapel of ease" for a larger church, St Andrew, Holborn. A chapel of ease was a smaller church built to serve people who lived far from the main parish church.

Becoming a Parish Church

Arthur Tooley was paid £3,500 to build the chapel and two houses. This money came from a group of fifteen trustees. One important trustee was Sir Streynsham Master. Later, a group called the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches bought the chapel.

In 1723, it became a full "parish church." A parish church serves a specific local area. It was dedicated to St George to honor Streynsham Master. He had been the governor of Fort St George in India.

Notable People and Changes

From 1747 until his death in 1765, a historian named William Stukeley was the rector (the main priest) of the church.

The church building was changed several times over the years.

• In the early 1800s, J.B. Papworth remodelled it. He added a bell-tower and two new front sections. Before this, it was a plain brick building.
• Then, from 1867 to 1869, S. S. Teulon made even bigger changes. He almost completely changed the outside of the church. He also removed the inside galleries and added the columns and roof you see today.

A famous event happened at this church in 1956. The poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath were married here on a day known as Bloomsday.

Protecting the Church

St George the Martyr Holborn is a very important historical building. On October 24, 1951, it was given a special status. It became a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a building of more than special interest, and it is protected to make sure it lasts for a long time.

The Church Organ

The church has an organ that is also very old and special. The British Institute of Organ Studies has listed it as a "historic instrument." This means it is an important part of musical history. The first organ was put in the church in 1773, and it has been rebuilt and improved over many years.

See also

• HTB network