Imagine, if you will, a bustling London waterfront centuries ago. Right here where St Magnus the Martyr stands. It was a gateway between the city and the world.
Welcome to St Magnus the Martyr. This isn’t just another beautiful church in London. It is a landmark steeped in history and mystery. It stands proudly near The Monument to the Great Fire of London.
St Magnus lies on the original alignment of London Bridge. For centuries, it has watched countless souls pass through the city gates.
But to whom is this church really dedicated? That’s where our story gets interesting. Today it is dedicated to St Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney. He was a pious Viking who met a violent end in 1116 or 1117. Yet the church existed long before his sainthood.
Scholarly opinion suggests that the original dedication was to St Magnus of Anagni. He was a 2nd-century Italian saint. His cult was once widespread. The identity of St Magnus has been disputed for centuries. It wasn’t confirmed until 1926 by the Bishop of London.
Let’s journey back to the 11th century. A wooden bridge spans the Thames. The area around the bridge teems with life. Craftsmen, traders, and merchants all converge here. St Magnus emerges to serve the growing population.
Legend says that William the Conqueror granted St Magnus to Westminster Abbey in 1067. This charter is likely a forgery. It may still hold some truth about the church’s early beginnings.
In 1209, a stone bridge replaced the old wooden one. It included a chapel dedicated to St Thomas Becket. Pilgrims flocked here on their way to Canterbury. St Magnus and the chapel had a dispute. It was about the offerings from the pilgrims. The chapel eventually agreed to pay an annual contribution to St Magnus.
The church grew in prominence over the centuries. Edward I held a feast here in 1274. Fishmongers paraded past St Magnus on his feast day. Henry Yevele was buried here. He rebuilt Westminster Hall and the chapel on London Bridge.
St Magnus Corner became an important meeting place. Notices were posted. Proclamations were read. Wrongdoers were punished. Bishops even gathered here.
The Great Fire of London in 1666 devastated St Magnus. It was one of the first buildings to burn. Yet from the ashes rose a new St Magnus. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt it between 1671 and 1687.
T.S. Eliot admired St Magnus. He called its interior “one of the finest among Wren’s interiors.” Its “inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold” captivated him.
Take a moment now to look at the clock. Sir Charles Duncombe donated it in 1709. He had once been stuck on London Bridge. He vowed to give a public clock if he ever became successful.
St Magnus the Martyr stands as a testament to London’s enduring spirit. It has survived fires, debates, and transformations. It is a place of beauty, history, and faith.