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Ordnance Survey Grid ReferenceTQ302796
The Anglican church of 'St Margaret, Westminster',historically part of the hundred of Ossulstone in the county of Middlesex^[1],is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church^[2] of the British Houses of Parliament in London.It is dedicated to Margaret of Antioch^[3].
Originally founded in the 12th century by Benedictine monks, so that local people who lived in the area around the Abbey^[4] could worship separately at their own simpler parish church , it was rebuilt from 1486 to 1523. It became the parish of the Palace of Westminster in 1614, when the Puritans of the 17th century, unhappy with the highly liturgical Abbey, chose to hold Parliamentary services in the more 'suitable' St Margaret's^[5], a practice which has since continued.
The north-west tower was rebuilt by John James from 1734 to 1738, as well as the whole structure being encased in Portland stone. Both eastern and western porches were added later by J L Pearson. The church's interior was greatly restored and altered to its current appearance by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1877^[6], though many of the Tudor features have remained.
Notable features include the eastern window of 1509 of Flemish stained glass, created to remember the betrothal of Catherine of Aragon to Prince Arthur^[7], elder brother of Henry VIII. Other windows commemorate William Caxton, Britain's first printer, who was buried at the church in 1491, Sir Walter Raleigh, executed in Old Palace Yard^[8] and then also buried in the church in 1618, and the poet John Milton, a parishioner of the church. The collector Henry Constantine Jennings is also buried there^[9] .
The church has been a common venue for 'society' weddings, including those of Samuel Pepys^[10] and Sir Winston Churchill^[11]. The ensemble of St Margaret's, the Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Abbey is a World Heritage Site.

Contents

Gallery

External links

References

Gallery

External links

★ Guide to St Margaret's

References

1. Genuki
2. Parish details
3. 'The Buildings of England, London, 6,Wesminster' Pevsner,N./Bradley,S. (2003, Uxbridge, Penguin) ISBN 0300095953
4. Reason for existence
5. 'Parliament past and present' Wright,A. and Smith,P (Hutchinson & Co, London, 1868)
6. 'Personal and Professional Recollections'. Scott,G.G.Kt (Stamp,G. (Ed)( Sampson Low Marston Searle & Rivington, 1879 ;Paul Watkins Publishing, Donington,1995)ISBN 1871615267
7. 'Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII' Starkey,D. (Harper Collins, London,2004) ISBN 0060005505
8. Execution described
9. 'Jennings , Henry Constantine (1731–1819)' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Angelicoussis,E. (Oxford University Press, Sept 2004) ISBN 019861411X
10. 'The Illustrated Pepys: Extracts from the Diary' (Wilson,P.(Ed) (Penguin, Harmondsworth,1987) ISBN: 0141390166
11. 'Churchill:a life' Gilbert,M. (Heinnemann,London, 1991) ISBN 0434291838