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 for a recital, beware the hard wooden benches!) The crypt is a hive of activity, with a popular 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. Also watch out for a new alfresco café set to open in summer 2013.

St. Martin's is often called the royal parish church, partly because Charles II was christened here. Originally a small medieval chapel (probably used by the monks of Westminster Abbey), the 18th century saw the church get a major revamp: completed in 1726, 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, St. Martin-in-the-Fields manages to do just fine.