Contents

The Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens

A Brief Tour of the Church

(see also Memorials Page)

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 case.

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.  Below the COPPER CROSS is a memorial to King Charles I, with the words "Touch not mine anointed".  A tradition of the Church is the commemoration of the death of King Charles at a special service which is held annually on the Thursday closest to 30th January.   See 'Traditions'.

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. 

To the left 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.

The TOWER holds two BELLS, one of which dates from before the Great Fire of London.  The bells are currently not in use, as they cannot be rung from the ground floor, as that area is now occupied by toilets and kitchen. 

Full details of the bells are given on Dickon Love's excellent website, "LOVE'S GUIDE TO THE CHURCH BELLS OF THE CITY OF LONDON", at http://london.lovesguide.com/margaret_pattens.htm.