St Magnus-the-Martyr, City of London

St Magnus-the-Martyr stands beside Lower Thames Street near The Monument in the City of London. It is an Anglican church on the south bank of the Thames, close to where the old London Bridge once carried traffic between the City and Southwark. The present building is a Grade I listed structure with a tall tower that once guided river traffic. It occupies the line of the medieval bridge and has served the bridgehead community for centuries. The church also holds the title of guild church to the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers and the Worshipful Company of Plumbers.

The church is dedicated to St Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney, who died in 1116 or 1117 and was canonised soon after. His relics were discovered in 1919, strengthening the link, though some scholars argue the original dedication was to St Magnus of Anagni, a second-century Italian bishop. The feast of St Magnus was kept on 19 August and appears in early liturgical calendars. The rector holds the unusual title of Cardinal Rector, unique in the Church of England since 2016.

Inside, the church retains its medieval plan with aisles and a tall tower. The base of the tower contains a section of the old Roman riverside wall. The interior includes fittings from the united parishes of St Margaret and St Michael. Outside, the surroundings show the busy riverfront that once bustled with trade. The church remains a quiet refuge near the modern bridge and the towering Monument to the Great Fire.