St. Martin-in-the-Fields

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Review

One of London's best-loved and most welcoming of churches is more than just a place of worship. Named after the saint who helped beggars, St Martin's has long been a welcome sight for the homeless, who have sought soup and shelter at the church since 1914. The church is also a haven for music lovers; the internationally known Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields was founded here, and a popular program of concerts continues today. (Although the interior is a wonderful setting, the wooden benches can make it hard to give your undivided attention to the music.) The crypt is a hive of activity, with a café and shop, plus the London Brass-Rubbing Centre, where you can make your own life-size souvenir knight, lady, or monarch from replica tomb brasses, with metallic waxes, paper, and instructions from about £5.

For the historical details, take the worthwhile audio tour. St. Martin's is often called the royal parish church, partly because Charles II was christened here: The small medieval chapel that once stood here, probably used by the monks of Westminster Abbey, gave way to a grand rebuilding, completed in 1726, and James Gibbs's classical temple-with-spire design also became a familiar pattern for churches in early colonial America. Though it has to compete for attention with Trafalgar Square's many prominent structures, its spire is slightly taller than Nelson's Column.