St Mary le Strand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary le Strand |
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St Mary le Strand seen from the west (prior to pedestrianisation in 2021)
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| Location | Strand, City of Westminster WC2R 1ES, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | www.stmarylestrand.com |
| History | |
| Dedicated | 1724 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Architect(s) | James Gibbs |
| Years built | 1714–1724 |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of London (previously Charing Cross) |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
St Mary le Strand is a beautiful Church of England church in London, England. You can find it at the eastern end of the Strand in the City of Westminster. This church is special because it sits on what used to be a traffic island, right in the middle of a busy road! It's one of London's two famous "Island Churches," the other being St Clement Danes.
The church is near Somerset House, King's College London's campus, and Bush House. Even though there were older churches here before, the current building was part of a big project in the early 1700s to build many new churches, sometimes called "Queen Anne Churches". St Mary le Strand is also the official church for the Women's Royal Naval Service, and it has a special book to remember members who have passed away. The closest subway station is Temple.
Contents
The Church's Story: A Look Back in Time
This church is actually the second one named St Mary le Strand. The first church was a bit further south. We don't know exactly when it was built, but it was mentioned in a document from 1222. Back then, it was called the Church of the Innocents, or St Mary and the Innocents.
Why the First Church Disappeared
In 1549, the first church was torn down by Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. He wanted to build Somerset House in its place. The people who went to the church were promised a new one, but it was never built! This meant they had to go to nearby churches like St Clement Danes and later the Savoy Chapel.
Where the New Church Stands
The spot where the modern church now stands used to have a very tall maypole. This maypole was a popular place for May Day celebrations in the 1500s and 1600s. But by the early 1700s, it was old and falling apart.
Building a New St Mary le Strand
The new St Mary le Strand was the very first of twelve new churches built in London. This project was part of a plan called the "Commission for Building Fifty New Churches". It cost about £16,000, which was a huge amount of money back then!
Construction started in February 1714. The architect was James Gibbs, and this was his first big project after he came back from Italy. The tall steeple was finished in September 1717. However, the church wasn't ready for services until January 1, 1724. Edmund Gibson, who was the Bishop of London, officially opened it.
Famous Connections
- It's said that Bonnie Prince Charlie secretly visited London in 1750. He supposedly gave up his Roman Catholic faith in this church to become an Anglican.
- In 1809, John Dickens and Elizabeth Barrow got married here. They were the parents of the famous writer Charles Dickens!
Making the Church Even Better
In 1871, the church was updated by Robert Jewell Withers. He removed the old box pews (which were like private seating areas) and replaced them with the elegant benches you see today. He also added the beautiful tiled floor in the main part of the church. These changes were very popular and are still there now.
Surviving Tough Times
St Mary le Strand almost got destroyed twice in the 1900s.
- In the early 1900s, there was a plan to knock down the church to make the Strand road wider. But a campaign, helped by artist Walter Crane, saved it! However, the churchyard was removed, and the graves were moved to Brookwood Cemetery.
- During the Second World War and the London Blitz, many buildings around the church were badly damaged by bombs. But St Mary le Strand managed to survive, even though it was hit by a nearby explosion.
The Church's Design: A Unique Look
The design of St Mary le Strand was quite talked about from the very beginning. The architect, James Gibbs, later said he wasn't happy with how his original plans were changed.
Changes to the Original Plan
Gibbs had first planned for the church to look more Italian, with a small bell tower over the west end and no tall steeple. Instead of a steeple, a huge column, 250 feet (76 meters) high, with a statue of Queen Anne on top, was supposed to be built nearby. A lot of stone was bought for this column.
But then Queen Anne died in 1714, and the plan for the column was stopped. Gibbs was told to use the stone to build a steeple instead. This completely changed the church's design. Gibbs explained that because the building was already twenty feet high, he couldn't change its length. So, he had to make it wider from north to south, which made the church's shape oblong instead of square.
Challenges and Beauty
The fancy Baroque decorations on the outside of the church were criticized at the time. Things got worse in 1802 when one of the decorative urns on the church fell off during a parade and sadly killed someone passing by.
The church's location in the middle of a busy road also caused problems. Even in the 1700s, people complained about the traffic noise. Because of this, Gibbs designed the ground floor without windows to help keep the noise out.
Despite these challenges, St Mary le Strand was Gibbs's first public building, and it made him very famous. The inside of the church is beautifully decorated with a white and gold plastered ceiling. The ceiling design was inspired by famous Italian artists like Luigi Fontana and Pietro da Cortona. The church's entrance was inspired by Cortona's Santa Maria della Pace, and the steeple shows the influence of Sir Christopher Wren.
See also
