The Church of St. Martin in the Fields

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If you walk along Charing Cross Road from Tottenham Court Road you will come across an area called Trafalgar Square, which is a well-known public space and tourist attraction in Central London. The Square is situated in the city of Westminster and at its center is Nelson’s column, which is surrounded by four lion statues at its base. In the area there are a number of commemorative statues and sculptures within the Square. Just as you reach the square on the left is a church called St. Martin in the Fields. James Gibbs built the church from 1722-1724, in honor of Saint Martin of Tours. It directly faces Trafalgar Square and is separated from the square by Charing Cross Road. The church stands tall and is surrounded by several businesses, restaurants, and tourist attractions in the area. It is hard to get a good look at the entire building from the street because of its large scale and long width. Its portico is rather demanding because it is very large and is among one of the first things you notice as you approach the building. There is constant traffic up and down Charing Cross, which draws a lot of attention to the church. St. Martin-in-the-Fields plays a huge role in the importance of Trafalgar Square. The building gives off a very overpowering feeling as you walk up the steps to its entrance. In a demanding place like Trafalgar Square, St. Martin in the Fields church is able to stand on its own to draw attention of many to its doors.
The church originally stood in the fields and was given the name St. Martin-in-the-Fields as a way of distinguishing it from the number of churches in the City of London with the same dedication. The church was dedicated to Saint Martin who was England’s patron saint. He was born in Hungary in t...

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...eople that come there to not only see the church but to eat, tour, and work within its walls. St. Martin-in-the-Field’s church is the culmination of prolific church building. It remains one of the most complete and impressive statements of a Georgian church through its prominence, significance, and altruism.

Bibliography

• Esdaile, Katharine. St. Martin in the Fields: New and Old. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1944. Print.

• Gibbs, James . James Gibbs as a Church Designer. Derby: The Chapterhouse Press, 1972. Print.

• Little, Bryan . The Life and Work of James Gibbs. London: B. T. Batsford Ltd, 1955. Print.

• Mace, Rodney. Trafalgar Square Emblem of Empire. Reprint. London: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Print.

• McMaster, John. A short History of the Royal Parish of St. Martin in the Fields. London: G. Holder & Sons, 1916. Print.

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