St Martin Ludgate History — St Andrew by the Wardrobe

St Martin Ludgate - History

A Brief History and Description

The first written reference to the church was of a medieval church on the site in 1174. This was rebuilt in 1437, and the tower was struck by lightning in 1561. Before the Reformation, the patronage of the church belonged to the Abbot and Chapter of Westminster until 1540, then to the Bishop of Westminster until 1554, when it passed to the Bishop of London and then to the Chapter of St Paul’s, with whom it remains. These patrons are represented in the stained glass windows in the north wall.

In 1643, William Penn, whose son founded Pennsylvania, USA, was married in the church. On 4th September 1666 the Great Fire of London engulfed St Martin’s which was gutted. Rebuilding was not immediate – it was largely completed by 1680, but not finally until 1703. At the same time the church was set back from the old site, as Ludgate Hill was widened.

St Martin’s was one of Wren’s later rebuilds. Its slender lead spire was most carefully considered in relation to the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. The view eastward from Ludgate Circus towards St Paul’s is one of the most memorable in London.

In 1890 the three parishes of St Martin’s, St Mary Magdalen Old Fish Street, the church of which was damaged by a fire in 1886 and then demolished, and St Gregory by St Paul’s, destroyed by the Great Fire, were united (see the paintings to the right of the altar).

1894 saw major rebuilding and alterations, giving St Martin’s much of the layout it has today. The floor level was raised at the east end, creating the chancel area.

In 1941, an incendiary bomb damaged the roof, but St Martin’s received the least damage of all the city churches in the war. 1962 saw St Martin’s become the Chapel of the Honourable Society of the Knights of the Round Table whose history is ancient, although evidence is only patent from 1720.

A major renewal of the fabric, spire and roofs was completed in 1990. Redecoration, renovation of lighting and heating followed, prior to a formal reopening on St Martin’s Day, 11th November 1992, in the presence of TRH. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

St Martin’s is now designated as a Chapel of Ease within the parish of St Andrew by the Wardrobe. It is also the Ward Church for the Ward of Farringdon Within.

It is used for regular Anglican worship, educational activities, ceremonial occasions by our long-standing City partners, and welcomes tourists, schools and local visitors with daily openings during the week.

In addition to the Anglican worship, the Elim Full Gospel Chinese Church (EFGCC) worships there on Sundays.

The EFGCC is a member of the Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance and is a cell-based church which encourages the training and nurturing of individuals in local cell groups, as well as in the more traditional Sunday meetings.