St Martin-in-the-Fields Church

Located in the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster London, St Martin-in-the-Fields is an English Anglican church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. With history dating back to the medieval period, the present structure is believed to have been built in Neoclassical design in 1722-1726. However, evidence discovered recently shows the presence of a grave from about 410 AD. The church has a very prominent position and ranks as one of the most famous churches in London.

The programme for the homeless and destitute people of the area was initiated by its Vicar Dick Sheppard from 1914 to 1927, in the form of “Church of the Ever Open Door” and made famous for its work with young and homeless people. The main help came from the Connection that shares with the Vicar’s Relief Fund and the funds generated by the annual BBC Radio 4 Appeal’s Christmas appeal.

If you wish to stay in an ambience of simple luxury in the heart of the city while visiting London you should choose to stay in 5 star hotels in London such as the Barbican Rooms where the atmosphere is a mix of traditional and contemporary features and provides refined comfort with luxurious accommodation and best of facilities.

St Martin-in-the Fields church is famous for daily lunchtime and evening concerts in which many ensembles perform, mainly the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields that was co-founded by Sir Neville Marriner and John Church, a former Master of Music at St Martin’s. The church has a crypt that is home to a café where jazz concerts are held and its profits are used to fund the programmes of the church. The London Brass Rubbing Centre is also housed in the crypt having been established in 1975 as an art gallery, book and gift shop. In 2002, a life-sized marble statue of Henry Croft, London’s first pearly king, was shifted from its original site at St Pancras Cemetery to the crypt.

While visiting London you should choose to stay at The Barbican Rooms By Montcalm as they provide comfortable luxurious accommodation that is distinguished by its settings and décor in tastefully decorated and stylish en-suite bedrooms.

A £36-million renewal project renovation work at the church was undertaken in January 2006 that included renewal of the church and providing facilities covering aspects of the church’s crypt, a row of buildings to the north and some important new underground spaces in between. After completion of the renovation work the church and crypt were reopened in the summer of 2008.

The peal of the Swan Bells tower in Perth, Australia has twelve historic bells that were cast in St Martin-in-the Fields in 1725. The current set of bells, cast in 1988, is being rung every Sunday between 9am and 10am by the St Martin in the Fields Band of Bell Ringers. The church is the parish of the Royal Family and as such it has close relations with it and with the Prime Minister’s office and the Admiralty.