London Friends

Copied

Explore London's beautiful churches

Imagine standing where Christopher Wren rebuilt after the Great Fire, uncovering a forgotten churchyard in the heart of the modern financial district or discovering some of London's hidden churches off the tourist trail.

The London Friends group invites you to visit wonderful churches in the hidden corners of London through our brilliant tours across the city. Step into footsteps of London's history with us by joining us at one of our upcoming events.

We invite you to explore these treasures with us, discovering their fascinating pasts, and finding out how they serve their communities today. Each church filled with monuments, glass, stonework and stories of the people who shaped London. There is so much to explore.

Whether you're a history lover, a curious traveller, or simply looking for a new way to experience London, we would love to welcome you.

Our next event

For more information about the event below, please contact londonfriends@nationalchurchestrust.org to express your interest.

GreaterLondonRICHMONDChapelRoyal(elliottbrownCC-BY-SA2.0)1
ElliottBrown

The churches of Petersham and Richmond

Date: Saturday 10 October at 10:30am

Join the London Friends on a tour of three unique and beautiful churches. First up is St Peter's church in Petersham, where there are refreshments served on arrival. Described by German British Art Historian Pevsner as "A church of uncommon charm...well preserved in its pre-Victorian state," you can enjoy the 13th century chancel with a spectacular 17th century monument to the Cole family. Next, the tour moves to St Mary Magdalene – the historic parish church of Richmond – a stunning Neo-Gothic church with numerous plaques and monuments of interest from the 16th century right up to the 21st. The tour concludes with a visit to St Elizabeth of Portugal, the oldest post-Reformation Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Southwark, with its handsome tower forming a prominent landmark.

Join the mailing list for London Friends

Never miss out on a London Friends event again. Join the mailing list to hear first about exciting new events.

Email London Friends to join the list

 

The London Friends group has been set up on a voluntary basis by National Churches Trust Chair Sir Philip Rutnam to help promote interest in historic churches in London.

Some of the brilliant churches the London Friends have visited

The baroque exterior of Deptford St Paul

©John Salmon

Deptford St Paul
A striking reredos with Christ on a cross in the centre

©J A Chapman 82

Hackney St Andrew
The bright interior of St Alfrege; filled with rich wood and reds and golds

©Diliff

Greenwich St Alfege
The exterior of St Anne in Kew; columns are at the front of the building

©Matthew Black

Kew St Anne
The interior - including the pulpit - of St Cuthbert's in Earls Court

©Basher Eyre

Earls Court St Cuthbert
Taken from an upper gallery, you can see the altar and pews in St George's Lutheran Church

©Diamond Geezer

Whitechapel St George's German Lutheran Church
A striking wall painting at St Boniface

©Steve Cadman

Whitechapel St Boniface German Catholic Church
A striking wooden memorial in St Nicholas in Deptford Green

©Mike Quinn

Deptford Green St Nicholas
The striking stone exterior of Abney Park Chapel with multiple turrets

©Derren Weekes

Hackney Abney Park Chapel
A colourful stained glass winodw at Our Lady of Loreto and Winefride

©John Salmon

Kew Our Lady of Loreto and St Winefride

Let’s stay in touch

Our monthly newsletter features the latest news about church heritage, as well as events and trails, so you can discover new places to explore.

Sign up