St Margaret Pattens Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Margaret Pattens
View of the church from Plantation Lane
Location	London, EC3
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Anglican
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed building
Architect(s)	Sir Christopher Wren
Administration
Diocese	London

St Margaret Pattens is a special Church of England building in the City of London. It is located on Eastcheap, very close to the famous Monument. This church is named after Saint Margaret of Antioch.

A Look Back: The Church's History
Exploring the Church Building
- The Tall Spire of St Margaret Pattens
- Inside the Church: Unique Features
Understanding the Church's Name
- The Story of Pattens
- Another Idea for the Name
Gallery
See also

A Look Back: The Church's History

How Old Is St Margaret Pattens?

The first records of a church here date back to 1067. Back then, it was probably made of wood. Later, it was rebuilt using stone. However, this stone church eventually became old and worn out. It had to be taken down in 1530.

Rebuilding After Fires

A new church was built in 1538. But disaster struck in 1666 with the Great Fire of London. This huge fire destroyed much of the city, including St Margaret Pattens. The church you see today was built by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren in 1687. It is one of the few churches in the City of London that was not badly damaged during the Second World War.

What Is a Guild Church?

In 1954, St Margaret Pattens changed its role. It stopped being a regular parish church. Instead, it became one of London's special "guild churches." These churches often have services during the week. Their visitors are usually people who work in nearby offices. The church tower also holds the office for the Archdeacon of Hackney. This is an important role in the church's leadership.

A Protected Building

On January 4, 1950, St Margaret Pattens was named a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building. It is protected to make sure it stays safe for many years.

Exploring the Church Building

The Tall Spire of St Margaret Pattens

The outside of St Margaret Pattens is famous for its tall spire. It reaches 200 feet into the sky! This spire is the third highest designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is also special because it is the only one he designed in an old medieval style. Some people even call it Wren's only "true spire."

Inside the Church: Unique Features

The inside of the church is a simple rectangle shape. But it has some very unusual things to see. You can find the only canopied pews in London here. These special seats have a roof over them. They were made in the 1600s for the churchwardens. These were people who helped manage the church. You might see the letters "CW" carved into one of the pews. Some think this stands for Christopher Wren. But it might also mean "church warden."

Another interesting item inside is a "punishment box." This box is carved with a Devil's head. People who misbehaved during church services had to sit in this box.

Understanding the Church's Name

The Story of Pattens

The name "Pattens" has a fun story behind it. It is thought to come from pattens. These were special overshoes with wooden soles. Later, they had raised iron rings on the bottom. People wore them to walk on the muddy streets of London. They helped keep feet clean and dry. When entering the church, people would take off their pattens. The church has a long connection with the Livery Company called The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. This group was made up of people who made these shoes.

Another Idea for the Name

There is another idea about the church's name. It might be named after a person. Perhaps it honors Ranulf Patin. He was a canon at St Paul's Cathedral a long time ago. However, it was not common to name a church after a helper in this way. So, the story about the shoes is more popular.