St. Bride's Church

Known as the "the church of the press" due to its location on Fleet Street, St. Bride's Church is a remarkable historical and religious landmark.

The current church of St. Bride is the eighth that has stood here. After the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the last one, Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt the church with a spire that's been described as a "madrigal in stone."

After the church was bombed in 1940, an archaeologist excavated the crypts and was able to confirm much of the site's legendary history.

A Roman house was discovered, and it was established that in the 6th century, St. Brigit (St. Bride) of Ireland had founded the first Christian church that was built here. In addition, a crypt with evidence of six subsequent churches was discovered.

Famous parishioners of St. Bride's have included the writers John Dryden, John Milton, Richard Lovelace, and John Evelyn. Diarist Samuel Pepys was baptized here, and novelist Samuel Richardson and his family are buried here.

The crypt was a burial chamber and charnel house for centuries; now it's a museum.

Choral concerts are given on Tuesday and Friday, though they are often suspended during Lent and Christmas.