Whether you’re exploring faith, visiting London, lighting a candle for someone you love, or simply seeking stillness, we’re glad you’ve found your way to St George the Martyr.
We’re a worshipping community rooted in prayer, hospitality, and justice, and you’re welcome here. Whoever you are, however you come.
Join us for Worship
If you're thinking about coming to church, whether it's your first time or the first time in a long time, Please know that you will be welcome here.
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Sunday Mass is the heart of our week. It’s where we meet God’s love, receive Christ in Holy Communion, and find strength for the days ahead. We hear God’s word, pray for the world, and share in each other’s joys and sorrows.
Whoever you are—new, returning, curious, or uncertain—you are welcome here. -
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no midweek services during August
This service is a special intimate time of prayer in the middle of the week, to soothe the soul and to keep us focussed on God between Sundays. It is a short service lasting around 30 minutes. Everyone is welcome to come along and encounter God in his word and through the blessed sacrament of the Eucharist.
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Life in London can feel busy and overwhelming. Holy Hour at St George the Martyr, Borough, offers something different: one hour of calm, silence, and beautiful music. It is one of the most peaceful ways to experience quiet prayer in London.
Visiting as a Tourist or Pilgrim
Our doors are open during the week for visitors, pilgrims, and passers-by. Whether you're on a Dickens trail, exploring Borough’s history, or simply looking for a moment of quiet—you’re very welcome.
Please note whilst we try and keep the church open as much as possible sometimes we have bookings and events that prevent us from being open to visitors. If you are planning a special visit please get in touch with us before you visit so we can try and arrange access for you.
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Tuesday–Friday 9am–5pm.
Please note that in August the church won’t be open for visitors very much. To avoid disappointment, please get in touch with us before you visit so we can try and arrange access.
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The current Georgian church, built in 1736 by architect John Price, stands on a site of worship dating back to 1122
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The box pews date from 1808 and give a sense of congregational life from two centuries ago
The pulpit, one of the tallest in London, originally featured three tiers and remains in its historic position
The ornate ceiling, crafted by Basil Champneys in 1897 and restored after World War II bomb damage, lends the interior a sense of grandeur.
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The Marion Grant–designed east window (1951) features a small kneeling figure of Little Dorrit from Dickens’s novel, remembering the connection between the author and the Marshalsea prison next door
A rare survivor of wartime destruction, the south window featuring St George and a dragon was relocated from Hanwell Residential School in 1933
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The church's tower clock has four faces, but the one facing east (toward Bermondsey) is black and unlit—a historical “snub” to residents who refused to contribute to rebuilding costs in the 1730s
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Charles Dickens’s father was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Prison, which once adjoined the churchyard. Dickens lived nearby and featured the church in his novel Little Dorrit
Geoffrey Chaucer & The Canterbury Tales
St George the Martyr stands on the historic pilgrimage route to Canterbury, famously travelled by Chaucer’s pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales. Just along the road stood the Tabard Inn, where the journey began. Today, the church continues this tradition of welcome and wayfaring—offering space for rest, story, and prayer. -
The surrounding graveyard and tranquil garden contain historic gravestones and remain open for peaceful reflection during weekday hours
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You’re welcome to light a candle, sit in silence, or say a prayer. This is a working church, so there may be services or community events taking place.
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If you’re bringing a school group or a tour party, please contact us in advance so we can welcome you properly.