Our building dates to 1080, when the first church on this site was founded as the London headquarters of the archbishops of Canterbury. The medieval church of St Mary-le-Bow survived three devastating collapses before being completely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, it was destroyed once more in 1941 but was again rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1964.

Monday to Friday: 07.00 – 18.00

The church is open at weekends, but please check with us to enquire about weekend opening if making a special trip

The daily offices of Morning and Evening Prayer are said in church at 8.15am (8.00am on Tuesdays) and 5.45pm Monday – Friday. The Mass/Eucharist is celebrated Tuesday at 8.15am, Wednesday at 1.05pm, and Thursday 6.05pm. Principal feasts of the Christian year including Epiphany, Candlemas, Ascenscion, Trinity, and Corpus Christi are celebrated with a High Mass and music for voices and organ.

In the middle ages St Mary-le-Bow was famous as the home of the single ‘curfew’ bell which rung from the site in the middle of London’s central street – Cheapside – to indicate the end of the working day. So if you were born within the sound of Bow bell, you were considered a Londoner or ‘cockney’. The bells came crashing down in 1941 when the church was destroyed. The church was rebuilt in 1960-4 by Lawrence King and the bells were restored in 1961.

JustShare is a coalition of churches and charities committed to global development and social justice. JustShare organizes free, public debates, seminars, lectures and other events aiming to raise awareness, specifically within the City of London, of international development issues, and to encourage positive action in response.

St Mary-le-Bow has long had a reputation for dialogue and debate. We are home to an annual Boyle Lecture on Science and Religion, and are planning a new series of talks and conversations from Spring 2026

Lunchtime Recitals and evening concerts occur in the main body of the Church on a regular basis. As well as organ and chamber music recitals on some Thursday lunchtimes (free entry, retiring collection), we welcome choirs and ensembles presenting evening concerts, including our resident orchestra the Academy of St Mary-le-Bow.

Help us to preserve our heritage and continue to grow to secure our future. Every pound helps us to continue to serve all those who pass through. Please do sign up for a regular or one-off donation here. Thank you for your generosity!

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St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

020 7248 5139   |   email   |   twitter

underground: Bank, Mansion House, St Paul’s

buses: 8, 25, 242