Did you know that St Margaret’s Westminster stands as a unique testament to British history? It shares a World Heritage Site designation with the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey.
Let me tell you more about St Margaret’s Westminster. This church is dedicated to Margaret of Antioch. Benedictine monks founded it in the 12th century. It offered local people a simpler parish church for worship near the grand Abbey.
King Henry VII rebuilt St Margaret’s from 1486 to 1523. The new church was consecrated on April 9 1523. It has been called the last London church decorated in the Catholic tradition before the Reformation. Imagine richly painted statues of St Mary and St John flanking a large rood cross. Several internal chapels graced the building.
In the 1540s, the Duke of Somerset almost demolished St Margaret’s. He wanted materials for Somerset House. Armed parishioners resisted saving their church.
St Margaret’s became the parish church of the Palace of Westminster in 1614. Puritans preferred its suitability over the Abbey’s high liturgical style. This practice continues today. An additional burial ground was added in 1625. It is now Christchurch Gardens.
Between 1734 and 1738, the north-west tower was rebuilt. John James designed the reconstruction. The entire structure was encased in Portland stone at the same time. Later, J. L. Pearson added the eastern and western porches. Sir George Gilbert Scott greatly restored the church’s interior in 1878. He retained many Tudor features.
Interestingly, explorations in 1863 uncovered doors possibly covered in human skin. Victorian historians speculated it might be from William the Sacrist. He allegedly robbed the King in 1303. Supposedly, he was flayed alive as punishment. Subsequent studies revealed the skins were bovine.
By the 1970s, few people lived nearby. The Westminster Abbey and Saint Margaret Westminster Act of 1972 reallocated parish responsibilities. The church came under the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey’s authority.
St Margaret’s boasts notable commemorative windows. The east window from 1509 commemorates Catherine of Aragon’s betrothal to Henry VIII. Its journey is fascinating. Henry VII gave it to Waltham Abbey. Later it passed through various hands. These included Anne Boleyn’s father, Oliver Cromwell, and finally the parish of St Margaret’s in 1758.
Other windows honor William Caxton, England’s first printer. He was buried here in 1491. Sir Walter Raleigh is also remembered. He was executed in Old Palace Yard and buried here in 1618. The poet John Milton is commemorated too. He was a parishioner of St Margaret’s.
Enemy action destroyed Victorian glass in the south aisle during World War II. John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens created new abstract designs in 1966. They created a total impression of living radiance.
St Margaret’s has long been a popular venue for society weddings. Members of Parliament and officers of the House of Lords and Commons often marry here. Winston Churchill and Clementine Hozier married here in 1908.
Reflecting on St Margaret’s Westminster, we see a layered history. From its humble beginnings to royal connections, it remains a vital part of London. Its walls hold stories of faith, power, and artistic expression.