Saint Martin-in-the-Fields

St. Martin-in-the-Fields
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Architecture
Architect(s)	James Gibbs

St. Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours.

History

Roman era

St Martin-in-the-Fields and Charing Cross, circa 1562

Excavations at the site in 2006 led to the discovery of a grave dated about 410.^[1] 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).

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 London 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.

St. Martin-in-the-Fields by night, from Trafalgar Square

Modern Times

Interior of St Martin-in-the-Fields

The church survived the Great Fire of London which did not reach as far as the City of Westminster, but was replaced with a new building, designed by James Gibbs in 1721 and completed five years later.^[2] The design was criticised widely at the time but subsequently became extremely famous, being copied particularly widely in the United States.^[3] The church is essentially rectangular, with a great pediment in the Classical style supported by a row of huge Corinthian columns. The high steeple is topped with a gilt crown. Gibbs was certainly inspired by Sir Christopher Wren as the interior is very similar to St James's in Piccadilly.

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^[4]), along with Jack Sheppard in the now lost adjoining churchyard.

The church also had their 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 where built in 1818 on part of the parish burial ground in Camden Town and St Pancras and replaced ones built in 1683.^[5]

The church has a close relationship with the Royal Family, whose parish church it is, ^[6] and with the Admiralty^[7]

Present day

The ceiling of the café in the crypt

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^[8] which shares with The Vicar's Relief Fund the money raised each year by the BBC Radio 4 Appeal's Christmas appeal.^[9] The church is also known for its regular lunchtime and evening concerts: many ensembles perform there, including the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields which was co-founded by Sir Neville Marriner and John Churchill, the then 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 includes cleaning and renewing the church itself as well as provision of facilities for visitors, music, parish and social care, which encompass not only the church's crypt but also a row of buildings to the north and some significant new underground spaces in between. The funding includes a grant of £15.35 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The church and crypt have now reopened, the work having been completed in summer 2008. As part of the public fundraising, it is possible to sponsor a pane of glass and 'Give light to St Martin's'.^[10]

Twelve historic bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields make part of the Swan Bells monument in Perth, Western Australia.

St Martins school

List of organists

• John Weldon 1714 - 1736
• Joseph Kelway 1736 - 1781 (formerly organist of St Michael, Cornhill)
• Benjamin Cooke 1781 - 1793
• Robert Cooke 1793 - 1814 (son of Benjamin Cooke)
• Thomas Forbes Gerrard Walmisley 1814 - 1854?
• William Thomas Best 1852 - 1855?
• Martin Shaw 1920 - 1924
• Arnold Goldsborough 1924 - 1935
• Stanley Drummond Wolff 1938 - 1946
• John Churchill
• Christopher Stokes
• Paul Stubbings
• Nick Danks 2001 - 2008
• Andrew Earis 2009 -

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

St. [Martin-in-the-Fields][1] is an Anglican Church at the Northeast corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, London. Its patron is Saint Martin of Tours. In 1699 the church (which was controlled by the SPCK) founded a school for poor and less fortunate boys; it later became a girls school. The school was originally in Charing Cross Road, near the St. Martin-in-the-Fields church. It was known as St Martin’s Middle Class School for Girls, and only later became known as St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for Girls. The school did well and grew, in what was a populous fast-growing parish. The school relocated to its present site in 1928.

The school badge depicts the eponymous St. Martin of Tours. The school motto Caritate et disciplina translates as "With Love and Learning".[3] The school remains Christian but accepts girls of all faiths

See also

• List of churches and cathedrals of London
• Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Notes and references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: St Martin-in-the-Fields

• 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 website

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Coordinates: 51°30′32″N 0°07′37″W / 51.50889°N 0.12694°W / 51.50889; -0.12694