Saint Edmund Church

The church of St Edmund

The London audio-guided tour invites you to quiet contemplation before the church of St Edmund, an Anglican building dedicated to the martyr king Edmund of East Anglia, the last king of this territory before the Viking conquest in the ninth century. A church laden with history in the heart of the City.

Rebuilt by Christopher Wren

First built in the thirteenth century, the church of St Edmund was entirely destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666. Its reconstruction was directed by the architect Christopher Wren, to whom the restoration of most of the City churches from the 1670s is owed. Since 1950, it is among the Grade 1 listed monuments, the British equivalent of historic monuments.

What there is to see

The church presents the elegant sobriety of the buildings rebuilt by Wren, with its bell tower and its careful interior. Dedicated to a martyr king, it offers an interlude of calm and contemplation amid the bustle of the financial district. It is one of the many City churches that testify to the reconstruction of London after the Great Fire.

Practical information

The church of St Edmund is in the City of London. An active place of worship, it is visited with respect for contemplation; access is generally free during opening hours, which may vary according to services and weekdays. Appropriate dress is appreciated.

To whom is the church of St Edmund dedicated?

To the martyr king Edmund of East Anglia, the last king of this territory before the Viking conquest in the ninth century.

Who rebuilt the church after the Great Fire?

The architect Christopher Wren, from the 1670s; the church has been a Grade 1 listed monument since 1950.