St Anne's Church

St Anne’s Church stands in the heart of Soho, a district of Westminster known for its lively streets and creative energy. Built in the late 17th century, it was designed by William Talman or Christopher Wren as a simple brick basilica with a tall west tower. The churchyard once stretched around the building, but part of it now forms St Anne’s Gardens, a small public park reached from Wardour Street. A gate on Dean Street leads into the churchyard, where the tower still rises above the modern complex. The parish once included two daughter churches, but they later merged back into St Anne’s. The church has played a central role in London’s religious and cultural life for over three centuries. Its first organ came from St James’s Palace in 1699, and its organist William Croft composed the tune used in the hymn *O God, Our Help in Ages Past*. Famous figures were baptised or buried here, including Prince William Henry, brother of George III, and the actress Hester Davenport. The tower, rebuilt in the early 19th century after structural problems, now contains a clock bell cast in 1691. Beneath it lies the ashes of novelist Dorothy L Sayers, a longtime churchwarden. Inside the modern complex, the church shares space with a community centre and café. The rebuilt entrance, designed by students in 2016, won a national church architecture award for its subtle lighting and clean lines. The church remains a hub for local events, charities and grief support, including help for victims of the 1999 Admiral Duncan bombing. Its walls still echo with music and readings from its long musical tradition, linking past and present in the heart of Soho.