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St Mary-Le-Strand is the finest neo-baroque church in London. Built between 1714 and 1717, it was the first major work of architect James Gibbs, who later built St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, adjacent to Trafalgar Square. St Mary’s was one of the first churches started after the 1711 Fifty New Churches Act. It was built to replace an earlier church that stood on the site of Somerset House, just to the south of the present church building.
In 1750, St. Mary's is said to have had a clandestine guest, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'. The Prince allegedly renounced the Catholic faith and was received into the Church of England here during a secret visit. Also, the parents of Charles Dickens were married here in 1809.
St Mary-Le-Strand can claim to be one of the oldest parishes in London. It stands on a roadway that since ancient times has been a major thoroughfare from the west into the City of London.
St. Mary's has unfortunately been cut off from the surrounding streets by London's changing traffic system. Today it sits in the middle of a traffic island in the Strand, one of London's busiest routes from the City to the west end of London.
The only photo I have of this beautiful church is of its exterior. We passed by the church on two different days, but the gate was closed and locked. There was no sign listing the open times. I assume restorative work was going on inside.
For more photos of the church, click here or here.
Links to all my blog posts about British churches and Christian sites can be accessed through the box located at the top of the page.
