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

   

Click here for schedule

 of services 2008 


Forthcoming Concerts

 

 Click here for details


Contents

HOME PAGE
Our Name
What is a Guild Church?
Services & Ministry
Livery Companies
The Busoga Trust
Music at St Margaret's
Other Activities
History & Church Records
Tour of the Church
How to find us
Contact us by email


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

The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers.