Haven’t you wondered why a church in the heart of London is called St Martin-in-the-Fields? Its name is a clue to its age. This is St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Back in medieval times the area was farmland. It was literally “in the fields.” The first mention of St Martin-in-the-Fields dates back to 1222. It was a land dispute between the Bishop of London and the Abbot of Westminster. It owes its name to Martin of Tours. He famously cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar.
Henry VIII rebuilt St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1542. He wanted to keep plague victims from passing through his Palace of Whitehall. St Martin-in-the-Fields was enlarged again in 1607.
By 1710 the building was decaying. Parliament passed an act to rebuild St Martin-in-the-Fields. James Gibbs was chosen to design the new church. His design was a neoclassical masterpiece. It clearly owed a debt to Christopher Wren’s churches. Gibbs made some innovative changes. He put the steeple centrally behind the pediment. This was unconventional and attracted criticism.
The design proved highly influential. St Martin-in-the-Fields became a template for churches worldwide. Gibbs published a book about the church. Architects could use it as a guide. The lack of trained architects overseas made his book very popular. Plans for a grand staircase in front of the National Gallery were scrapped. They didn’t want to ruin the view of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Nelson’s Column was shortened. It shouldn’t tower over the church spire.
Trafalgar Square was built in the 1820s. This finally opened up St Martin-in-the-Fields. It became a landmark.
Inside St Martin-in-the-Fields you will find upper galleries. These give everyone a good view. The ceiling has stucco with cherubs, clouds, shells and scroll work. Giuseppe Artari and Giovanni Bagutti created this. The Victorian stained glass was replaced with plain glass. This opened up the space. Daylight now floods the interior. It works well with the plain white walls and dark wood pews.
At the far end is a warped window. Iranian artist Shirazeh Houshiary created it. It is a simple glass grid. It has been twisted to distort the space into a Christian cross. The central ellipse is lightly etched. It is lit to form a focal point. This is visible inside and outside. It was added in 2008 during a restoration.
The cafe in the crypt opened in 1986. The church had a major restoration in 2006. The crypt was expanded. New light wells were added next to the church.
St Martin-in-the-Fields is also famous for its outreach. It helps the local homeless. Regular candlelit concerts are held here.
St Martin-in-the-Fields stands as an architectural landmark. It remains an active church and concert venue. Its location is prominent. Its neoclassical architecture is elegant. St Martin-in-the-Fields has stood the test of time.