UK Churches: St Mary Le Strand, Westminster, London
St Mary Le Strand, Westminster
St Mary Le Strand on the Strand in central London, is a historic church designed by Scottish architect James Gibbs in the early 18th century.
Close to Somerset House and the Courtauld Gallery, King's College London's Strand campus and the Australian High Commission, St Mary Le Strand is the official church of the Women's Royal Naval Service.
It is one of the two so-called 'island churches' along with St Clement Danes, churches that were at one time completely surrounded by lanes of traffic.
According to tradition, Bonnie Prince Charlie secretly visited London in 1750 and renounced his Roman Catholic faith at St Mary le Strand Church in order to become an Anglican. The church also has a notable literary connection, as John Dickens and Elizabeth Barrow, the parents of the novelist Charles Dickens, were married there in 1809. Today St Mary Le Strand is an active Anglican church and an important architectural and historical landmark in this area of London.
History
The church was James Gibbs' first major work after a period of study in Rome.
It was built between 1714 and 1724 and is one of the "Fifty New Churches" commissioned during the reign of Queen Anne to serve London's growing population. The church is renowned for its elegant Baroque architecture, distinctive spire, and richly decorated interior.
St Mary le Strand has survived major changes to the surrounding city, including road widening and the destruction of nearby buildings during the Second World War.
The church received a £4.6 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2025 to support its "Jewel in the Strand" project. This funding will restore the 18th-century Grade I listed building and also add step-free access for the first time. In addition, the money will be used to fund a special project to uncover three centuries of local stories from people buried in the crypt and who sat in the pews.
Design
The building was deliberately built without lower windows to block out loud street noise (even in the 18th century) from the busy Strand.
The church features a bright and spacious nave with elegant Corinthian columns, decorative plasterwork, and a richly detailed plastered ceiling in white and gold that draws the eye upward.
Large arched windows fill the church with natural light. The interior also houses historic memorials, an ornate organ, and several other carefully preserved architectural details.
Access - how to get to St Mary Le Strand
The Strand
London WC2R 1ES
Tel: 020 7836 3126
www: stmarylestrand.com
The nearest tube stations are Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line), Temple (Circle & District lines) and Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines).
London buses 1, 9, 15 (N15), 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 172, 188, 243 and 341 all stop on The Strand close to the church.
There are several fine London pubs nearby including The Wellington, an Edwardian pub at 351 The Strand, and The Edgar Wallace on Essex Street.
Nearby
Located in central London, the church is close to several other places of interest.
These include Covent Garden, The Royal Ballet and Opera, The Lyceum Theatre, Temple Bar, the Royal Courts of Justice and the London Transport Museum.
There are some very exclusive London hotels in the area including The Savoy, Strand Palace and One Aldwych.
See a listing of London hotels near Covent Garden in this area of the city.
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