Church Of St Mary Le Strand

The Church of St Mary-le-Strand is a Grade I listed church built between 1714 and 1717 by architect James Gibbs. Constructed from Portland stone, it is notable for its exceptional design on an island site, reflecting Gibbs' firsthand experience of Rome and drawing inspiration from Sir Christopher Wren's work at St Paul's Cathedral. The church features seven bays on its sides, a three-bay west front, and an apsidal east end.

The design includes superimposed orders with Corinthian columns above Ionic ones, which are developed into a bowed porch with a finialed semi-dome on the west front. The central bay is accentuated with pairs of columns and a pediment, while the tower and steeple rise in three diminishing stages. The "ground floor" level on the sides has alternating segmental and triangular pedimented niches, and the upper register features narrow end bays with a Venetian window theme in between. Alternate bays are tabernacled with segmental and triangular pediments against a balustraded parapet topped with urn finials.

Inside, the church has an aisleless layout with the apse framed by superimposed orders of coupled columns. Coupled columns also support a balcony over the west door. The walls are panelled with pilasters in the upper register, and the ceiling is coffered.