St Marylebone

St Marylebone is the UK’s grandest Regency parish church just metres from Madame Tussaud’s and Britain’s favourite high street.

Marylebone, Greater London

Opening times

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm.

Address

Marylebone Road
Marylebone
Greater London
NW1 5LT

St Marylebone parish church is set in the heart of central London. For more than 30 years, St Marylebone has pioneered the work of Christian healing and, as well as being home to the internationally respected St Marylebone Healing and Counselling Centre, the Crypt also houses an innovative NHS doctor’s surgery. We have close and active links with some of medicine’s Royal Colleges and provide chaplaincy to The London Clinic and King Edward VII’s Hospital.

St Marylebone has a flourishing Young Church and two schools and we provide chaplaincy services to the Royal Academy of Music and the University of Westminster, and work closely with nearby Regent’s University. The present parish church, opened in February 1817, is the fourth parish church to serve this parish. The fine Roman Renaissance frescoed apse was added in 1884 by Thomas Harris.

The altar before which Robert Browning married Elizabeth Barrett in 1846 can be seen in the Holy Family Chapel and hanging above it is the painting of the Holy Family donated to the new parish church by Benjamin West, PRA (1738-1820). The parish church of 1817 is reputed to have sat 3,000 people and a second gallery wrapped around three sides of the building. The organ is one of the finest recital instruments in the world and was built by Rieger Orgelbau of Austria in 1987.

Charles Dickens lived for many years next door to the parish church; he brought his son here to be baptised and vividly described the ceremony in his novel ‘Dombey and Son’. Bomb damage during World War II destroyed the stained glass windows; fragments of glass were collected and set in the windows seen today. The chandeliers were relocated here in 1968 from the old Council Chamber of St Marylebone Town Hall.

Memorials adorn the walls commemorating, among others, colonial administrators and governors and members of the East India Company. Sir John Stainer wrote his Oratorio Crucifixion for the choir in 1886 and it has been performed every year since. We are currently engaged in an HLF supported £8 million redevelopment project St Marylebone ‘Changing Lives’.

We are home to the internationally acclaimed Healing and Counselling Centre and the Marylebone Health Centre (NHS) and famed for our many historical connections and world class music. One five star reviewer wrote: As a parish church this one is quite breath taking and the fact that it is set in it’s own grounds gives a little more kudos. It’s nice just to sit in the grounds on a sunny day, particularly at lunchtime when it fills up with local office workers.

Key features

Captivating architecture
Enchanting atmosphere
Famous connections
Fascinating churchyard
Glorious furnishings
Magnificent memorials
National heritage here
Social heritage stories
Spectacular stained glass

Facilities

Bus stop within 100m
Café within 500m
Level access to the main areas
Train station within 250m

Regular events

Open Door: fortnightly, Tuesdays 2.30pm to 4pm, an informal gathering over tea and coffee which provides an opportunity for Christian fellowship and discussion.
Music for the Moment: monthly, Fridays, 2.30pm for tea and cake and 3pm for concert, free concerts every month by Royal Academy of Music students; people living with dementia, their friends and carers are warmly welcomed.
Organ Recital Series; on the first Sunday of each month at 4pm join us for our series of organ recitals on the famous Rieger organ, the series features performances from a variety of guest artists alongside members of the church's music department, refreshments are served after each recital before the monthly choral healing service.
Coffee Morning with AgeUK; every third Thursday of the month, 10am to 12noon, An opportunity to chat, get advice from AgeUK, take part in activities and listen to guest speakers, all whilst enjoying tea and cake.