St George the Martyr Holborn

St George the Martyr Holborn is an Anglican church at the southern end of Queen Square in the London Borough of Camden. It stands on the site of an earlier chapel built in 1703–06 by Arthur Tooley for worshippers who lived too far from St Andrew’s. The church was later purchased by the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches and became a parish church in 1723. Its name honours Sir Streynsham Master, who once governed Fort St George in India. The building has been altered several times, most notably by J. B. Papworth in the early 19th century and by S. S. Teulon in the 1860s. The church has strong links with notable figures from history and literature. William Stukeley, a well-known antiquary, served as rector here from 1747 until his death in 1765. In 1953, the Rev. Stanley Evans held a memorial service for Joseph Stalin. More famously, Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath were married in the church on 16 June 1956. The organ, first installed in 1773, is recognised as a historic instrument by the British Institute of Organ Studies. Inside, visitors find a Grade II* listed building with a bell-tower added by Papworth and columns and a new roof installed by Teulon. The interior reflects these changes, with the galleries removed and the space opened up. The church’s quiet position at the end of Queen Square offers a calm contrast to the busy streets nearby. Its history is visible in every detail, from the memorials to the carefully preserved organ.