St George-the-Martyr
Borough High Street, London SE1

St George-the-Martyr stands at a road junction in Borough High Street.  For 2,000 years important Roman, medieval and modern roads have all converged here.  King Henry V passed this way in 1415 after his victory at Agincourt. 

The church, built of red brick and Portland stone in the Classical style, is dominated by its west tower.  The church was rebuilt by John Price in 1734 -36 on the site of a building that had appeared in Hogarth's 'Southwark Fair'.

Inside, the Georgian interior has retained its gallery, the west gallery housing an organ built by Abraham Jordon in 1702.  Although the box pews have been cut down from the originals their doors have survived.  The splendid pulpit, standing on four fluted Ionic columns, is one part of a former three-decker. 

St George's has literary and historical connections, it features in Charles Dickens's 'Little Dorrit'.  The heroine was born in Marshalsea Prison, which used to stand a few doors away, and married at St George's. Today Little Dorrit can be seen in the east window at the bottom right-hand corner. 

The churchyard, now a garden, was the site of the Marshalsea Prison where Charles Dickens' father was imprisoned for debt in 1824. 

St George's is also notable as the last resting-place of Nahum Tate, who wrote the Christmas carol 'While Shepherds watched their Flocks by Night'.             

Admission free