London Tourist Guide 🇬🇧 Saint Margaret's Church and Trafalgar Square

Standing as it does between Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, and commonly called the parish church of the House of Commons, St. Margaret's Church has witnessed many important events in the life of England. St. Margaret's Church was built in the latter part of the 11th century. The church was dedicated to St. Margaret of Antioch, about whom little is known, though her cult was extremely popular in the Middle Ages. The east window, reredos and altar in the chancel are remarkable features of the church's interior. The altar and the candlesticks were designed by Peter Foster, who was in charge of the restoration of the church from 1984 to 1992. The present building is a plain, neat and elegant Gothic structure, with a panelled, slightly curved roof. The church is notable particularly for the Flemish stained glass in the east window, a gift of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. The present organ was installed by J.W. Walker in 1897, while the elaborately decorated late 19th century pulpit commemorates Thomas Britton Thatcher. In Europe, the art of stained glass window making reached an apex in the Middle Ages, when great churches and cathedrals rose all over Europe, ablaze with the colour of stained glass. St. Margaret's Church was founded in the 12th century by the Benedictine monks of the newly founded Monastery of St. Peter, who were disturbed by the people who came to hear Mass at the Abbey. Trafalgar Square's 200-year history has been one of constant change, as the original layout has been modified and updated many times. At the northeast corner is the St. Martin-in-the-Fields Parish Church, with a large white steeple. The church would become a model for many churches, especially in the United States. In 1812, the architect John Nash set about developing a new concept for the space as part of his improvement plans for London. He wanted to develop a new street from Charing Cross to Portland Place, forming an open square in the King's Mews opposite Charing Cross. It was destined to be a cultural space, open to the public, and in 1830 it was officially named Trafalgar Square. The fountains were added in 1845, while the mermaids, dolphins and tritons, which are male figures with tails like fish, were installed later. Four bronze lions made from recycled cannons from the defeated French fleet can be found in the centre of the square near Nelson's Column. One of the most prominent structures in London's Trafalgar Square is Nelson's Column. The Corinthian Column is approximately 52 metres high, including the base. Trafalgar Square is a site of significant historic importance and its monuments and statues also have individual heritage classifications.