St Martin within Ludgate, City of London
St Martin within Ludgate, City of London
St Martin within Ludgate is a Grade I City church on Ludgate Hill, in the Diocese of London, now served with St Andrew by the Wardrobe.
- Location
- City of London, Greater London
- Country
- England
- County
- Greater London
- City / town
- City of London
- Address
- Ludgate Hill, City of London, Greater London, EC4M 7DE
- Postcode
- EC4M 7DE
- Built
- 1677–87
- Architect
- Christopher Wren
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Martin
- Diocese
- London
- Parish
- St Andrew by the Wardrobe
- Grade
- I
- Style
- English Baroque
- Materials
- Portland stone to the south front and tower; red brick with Portland stone dressings to the rear
- Grid reference
- TQ 318 811
- Opening hours
- Church open Monday to Thursday 11am to 3pm. Church watchers are in on Friday 11am to 2.30pm.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Non-accessible toilets in church
Overview
Historic England lists the present church as 1677–87 by Wren. The body is square, with an order of four composite columns and pilasters defining a barrel-vaulted Greek cross and flat-ceiled corner compartments. The south front is Portland stone with three doorways and three windows above; the centre rises as a tower flanked by large consoles, with an octagonal upper stage and a shaped spire with a gallery. The rear elevation, to the garden of Stationers’ Hall, is red brick with slight Portland stone dressings. The listing notes carved doorcases, a west gallery with carved organ case, carved pulpit and reredos, and a white marble font with a wooden cover.
A medieval church on the site, first recorded in the twelfth century, was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Wren’s rebuilding incorporates part of the Roman town wall in the west wall. The church suffered little air-raid damage compared with other City churches.