By Peter Easton
8 September 2005

[This is the first of three articles originally posted to the discussion group website.]

St Margaret’s Church was one of the ever-present landmarks of Pepys’s life in London, and was where he married Elizabeth in 1655. Other famous peopled married there include John Milton in 1656 and Winston Churchill in 1908. Edward Montagu (later 1st Earl of Sandwich) was also married there in 1642¹. Ironically, Pepys’s marriage was a civil rather than a religious affair, with religious ceremonies having been declared invalid in 1653¹ (a policy presumably reversed at the Restoration).

The church is located immediately to the north of the more celebrated Westminster Abbey, literally in its shadow, and across the road from Westminster Hall and the modern-day Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament). It has been the parish church of the House of Commons since 1614². Founded in 11th or 12th century, it was rebuilt in 1504-23. While the current building represents the basic structure that Pepys would have known, there have been changes. It was refaced with Portland stone in 1735, and the west porch was added in 1876-95. The tower was largely rebuilt in the 1730s³. The church was extensively damaged by bombing in 1941 but was quickly restored⁴. There have also been changes to the interior with stain-glassed windows and memorials added over the years and newer furnishings.

Interior

Pepys attended Sunday service at St Margaret’s from time-to-time over the years, most notably when it became an opportunity for extra-marital trysts, as reported in a number of diary entries (see below).

St Margaret’s Church — west front

A couple of features demonstrate how both Charles I and his executioners were considered worthy, but for whom the country has some regret at their treatment. On the outside west wall, there is a plaque in remembrance of the dis-internment of those associated with Cromwell and of Charles I’s trial and execution, and the burning of their bodies in the churchyard. On the east wall, however, there is a bust of Charles I looking out defiantly towards the statue of Cromwell sited across the road at Westminster Hall.

Charles I on east front facing Cromwell’s statue

“This tablet is erected by the Cromwell Association to the memory of the undersigned whose remains were disinterred from Westminster Abbey at the time of the restoration of King Charles II and were in September 1661 buried in this churchyard of St Margaret’s.”

Stone plaque on west front

Diary entries

There are several references, with St Margaret’s often referred to simply as “the parish church” of Westminster. (These entries are from the Project Gutenberg Etext⁵.)

Hearing ‘Common Prayer’ after the restoration
5th August 1660: “After dinner to St. Margaret’s, where the first time I ever heard Common Prayer in that Church.”

Good and bad sermons
2nd September 1660: “So, to St. Margarett’s, and heard a good sermon upon the text “Teach us the old way…”

26th May 1661: “In the afternoon both the Sir Williams came to church, where we had a dull stranger.”

Liaisons dangereuses
In the later 1660’s, the church became associated with Pepys’s erotic liaisons with Betty Martin (nee Lane) and Betty Mitchell (nee Howlett) of which some example entries are given here — that of 26th May 1667 being one of or the more amusing.

3rd June 1666: “I to St. Margaret’s, Westminster, and there saw at church my pretty Betty Michell, and thence to the Abbey, and so to Mrs. Martin, and there did what ‘je voudrais avec her…”

5th August 1666: “Thence walked to the Parish Church to have one look upon Betty Michell”

14th April 1667: “…to Margaret’s Church, and there spied Martin, and home with her…”

26th May 1667: “After dinner I by water alone to Westminster, where, not finding Mrs. Martin within, did go towards the parish church, and in the way did overtake her… [Having agreed to meet her forthwith] did go out again myself, but met with Mr. Howlett, who, offering me a pew in the gallery, I had no excuse but up with him I must go, and then much against my will staid out the whole church in pain while she expected me at home, but I did entertain myself with my perspective glass up and down the church, by which I had the great pleasure of seeing and gazing at a great many very fine women; and what with that, and sleeping, I passed away the time till sermon was done, and then to Mrs. Martin, and there staid with her an hour or two, and there did what I would with her.”

25th August 1667: “…and to the parish church, thinking to see Betty Michell; and did stay an hour in the crowd, thinking, by the end of a nose that I saw, that it had been her; but at last the head turned towards me, and it was her mother, which vexed me, and so I back to my boat…”

References

1. Tomalin, Claire 2002, Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, Viking (Penguin Books), London, 499pp.
2. Banks, F.R., 1986 edition, The New Penguin Guide to London, Penguin Books, 596pp.
3. Westminster Abbey official website (April 2004).
4. Pepys Diary website (Glyn).
5. Project Gutenburg Etext (June 2003). Based on 1893 edition, edited by H.B. Wheatley.

Note: While this note is believed to be accurate, it should not be assumed to be authoritative, with information taken from a number of sources, some more reliable than others. Photos by P. Easton.