Church of Saint Magnus-the-Martyr — Attraction in London

St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge is a Church of England church and parish within the City of London. The church, which is located in Lower Thames Street near The Monument to the Great Fire of London, is part of the Diocese of London and under the pastoral care of the Bishop of Fulham. It is a Grade I listed building. The rector uses the title "Cardinal Rector", being the last remaining cleric in the Church of England to use the title Cardinal. St Magnus lies on the original alignment of London Bridge between the City and Southwark. The ancient parish was united with that of St Margaret, New Fish Street, in 1670 and with that of St Michael, Crooked Lane, in 1831. The three united parishes retained separate vestries and churchwardens. Parish clerks continue to be appointed for each of the three parishes. St Magnus is the guild church of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, and the ward church of the Ward of Bridge and Bridge Without. It is also twinned with the Church of the Resurrection in New York City. Its prominent location and beauty have prompted many mentions in literature. In Oliver Twist Charles Dickens notes how, as Nancy heads for her secret meeting with Mr Brownlow and Rose Maylie on London Bridge, "the tower of old Saint Saviour's Church, and the spire of Saint Magnus, so long the giant-warders of the ancient bridge, were visible in the gloom". The church's spiritual and architectural importance is celebrated in the poem The Waste Land by T. S. Eliot, who wrote, "the walls of Magnus Martyr hold/Inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold". He added in a footnote that "the interior of St. Magnus Martyr is to my mind one of the finest among Wren's interiors". One biographer of Eliot notes that at first he enjoyed St Magnus aesthetically for its "splendour"; later he appreciated its "utility" when he came there...

T S Eliot makes a reference to the church in 'The Waste Land' and if you visit on a Sunday afternoon shortly after Mass and see the gilded pillars glint through the wisps of incense, you can begin to understand what he meant. This is one of the few City churches open outside of services during the week (according to the church website, it is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 4pm but the church advises visitors to check in advance), and it is well worth the visit, especially combined with climbing the Monument. The current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren as the original building was one of the first to be destroyed in the Great Fire. There is a scale model of London Bridge which reminds visitors of the central role the church played before the new bridge was opened in 1831 - St Magnus lay on the alignment of the original bridge and was seen as the gateway to London from Southwark for 600 years. You still get a sense of the road millions of feet have trod from the picturesque pathway under the tower. The church is known for its bells, whose characteristic peal can be heard every Sunday following the service. There are very helpful sections on the church's long history on their website and there is also an extensive entry on Wikipedia. All in all, St Magnus is a microcosm of the history of London itself and continues to have a vibrant...

Until recently, this was my regular place of worship in central London. Beautiful church, architecture and a wealth of statues and other adornments. Sunday worship is at 11am and, Covid restrictions permitting, is a sung Solemn or High Mass using traditional language, with all ceremonies, carried out by a highly competent serving team. A small but well formed choir sing the Mass settings which are different each week. Prior to Covid putting an end to such things, there was a lively and convivial after-Mass gathering either in the Crypt or in the small outdoor garden, at which food and drink was always offered. Hopefully this will return if and when Lockdown restrictions are lifted. The Clergy team are genuinely welcoming and friendly, without being over-bearing. Weekday Low Masses are currently on Tuesdays to Fridays but during the day only, reflecting the demographic of the parish. If you are looking for perfectly executed High Anglo-Catholic worship in central London, you would be hard pressed to find...