St Margaret Pattens

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name = St. Margaret Pattens
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caption = St. Margaret Pattens designed by Christopher Wren
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denomination = Anglican, earlier Roman Catholic
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address = City of London
country = United Kingdom
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St Margaret Pattens is a Church of England church in the City of London, located on Eastcheap near the Monument. The dedication is to St Margaret of Antioch.

It was first recorded in 1067, at which time the church was probably built from wood. It was rebuilt in stone at some unknown subsequent date but fell into disrepair and had to be demolished in 1530. It was rebuilt in 1538 [ "London:the City Churches” Pevsner,N/Bradley,S New Haven, Yale, 1998 ISBN 0300096550] but was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The present church was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687 ["The Visitors Guide to the City of London Churches" Tucker,T: London, Friends of the City Churches, 2006 ISBN 0955394503] . It is one of only a few City churches to have escaped significant damage in the Second World War.

The church's exterior is notable for its 200-ft high spire, Wren's third highest and the only one that he designed in a medieval style ["The Old Churches of London" Cobb,G: London, Batsford, 1942] .. This is sometimes referred to as Wren's only "true spire". Its interior is a simple rectangle with some unusual fittings - the only canopied pews in London, dating from the 17th century. These were intended for the churchwardens. The initials "CW" which appear in one of the pews have been thought to refer to Christopher Wren, but they may also signify "church warden." Other features in the interior include a punishment box carved with the Devil's head where wrongdoers had to sit during the church service.

The church's name is traditionally said to derive from "pattens", wooden-soled overshoes, later soled with raised iron rings, that, as elsewhere, parishioners would be asked to remove on entering the church [ "The City of London Churches" Betjeman,J Andover, Pikin, 1967 ISBN 0853721122] . These raised shoes enabled people to walk about the streets of London without muddying their feet. The church has certainly long been associated with their Livery Company, The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. Another possibility is that the church's name actually commemorates a benefactor, possibly one Ranulf Patin, a canon at St Paul's Cathedral during the medieval period, although it would be most unusual for a benefactor to be commemorated in this way.

St Margaret Pattens remains an active church, with services Mondays and Thursdays.

Notes

* Eastcheap
* List of churches and cathedrals of London
* Plantation Place

External links

* [http://www.stmargaretpattens.org/ St Margaret Pattens church website]