Opening Times
"Early Welcome"
7.30 a.m. on Fridays;
other weekdays 10.30 a.m.
Regular Services
Every Thursday
(except 1st in month)
at 1.15 p.m.
HOLY COMMUNION
1st Thursday in month
at 1.10 p.m.
CHORAL EUCHARIST
Forthcoming Concerts
Contents
Contact information
All enquiries to the
Church Administrator,
Mr Geoffrey Webber
Postal Address:
Rood Lane, Eastcheap
London EC3M 1HS
Telephone:
+44 (0)20 7623 6630
Fax:
+44 (0)20 7283 2304
(via Busoga Trust)
Email:
st.m.pattens@btinternet.com
The Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens
A Tour of the Church
Entering the
Church at the west end by the centre doors the visitor will see on either side
two magnificent canopied pews,
reserved for the churchwardens. These pews are the only examples
of their kind to be found in a Wren church. 
Between the pews above the door is the Royal Stuart Coat of Arms believed to be that of James II.
Above them is the organ, constantly maintained, and still in its fine 18th century ease.
High up on the south wall is a COPPER CROSS weighing 3/4 cwt - a copy of the cross on St Paul's Cathedral. It used to surmount the SPIRE (199 feet), which itself is the third highest in the City.
St Margaret’s TOWER and
SPIRE were built and finished by means of money provided by the tax on coal
entering the Port of London. The SPIRE is the only remaining example of
Wren’s lead-covered timber spires.
Note the LECTERN with the unusual
feature of an eagle grasping a viper.
Note also the REREDOS above the altar containing a PAINTING by the Italian painter Carlo Maratta (1625-1713) depicting Christ with the ministering angels in Gethsemane.
North of the altar is an enclosed BEADLE'S PEW.
The Church lost most of its valuables during
the Reformation (1520-1550), but is left with a SILVER GILT COMMUNION CUP(1545),
the oldest in the City, which is on long-term loan to the Victoria and Albert
Museum. A copy of the cup is kept in the bank, but is used at a
special service held on 30th January each year (or nearest Thursday) in memory
of King Charles the Martyr. 
The Church also owns two rugged wooden figures of the LION and the UNICORN made in 1998 - copies of 17th century originals of these royal beasts which ran away in 1994!
An HOUR-GLASS (1750), used to time the sermons, and a set of pattens, may be inspected with the Administrator’s help.
Both the LECTERN and the PULPIT are examples of the very fine wood carving and wood panelling with which the church is blessed.
A key
feature of the Church is that the huge clear WINDOWS allow an
overwhelming impression of light, which was part of Wren’s genius.
More recent additions to the Church fabric include new CHANDELIERS and STAINED GLASS WINDOWS in the south wall, commissioned by
The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers
and