St Margaret Pattens
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St Margaret Pattens is an Anglican church in the City of London, located on Eastcheap near the Monument.
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 but was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The present church was built by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687. 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. Its interior is a simple rectangle with some unusual fittings - the only canopied pews in London, dating from the 17th century. It also includes 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 church has certainly long been associated with their Livery Company, The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. Another possibility is that it 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.
