St George’s Church

Overview

St George’s Church in Hanover Square in central London is an Anglican church which dates back to the 1700s. This impressive building is the parish church of Mayfair, and its Corinthian columns make it a dominant and standout feature on Hanover Square.

St George’s Church offers a calm welcome in the heart of London’s vibrant West End and is a great destination when it rains in London. It’s free to visit and everybody is welcome for prayer, reflection, or just to have a look around. The church is open to the public on weekdays and Sundays.

It underwent a complete refurbishment in 2010, during which the stone carvings, ornate plaster, and ceiling work were carefully restored. Visit to admire the historic architecture or to experience one of the music events which the church is well known for.

How old is St George’s Church?

Building started on St George’s Church in 1721 when General Steuart laid the first stone. It took three and a half years to complete the build, and the cost exceeded £10,000 – no small amount of money in those days. John James designed it and it was one of the churches protected by Queen Anne’s Act of 1711, which funded the building of 50 new churches in London and Westminster.

Is St George’s Church accessible?

St George’s Church aims to be as accessible as possible and has the following features:

Accessible toilets
Hearing induction loops
Wheelchair accessible in the main areas
Step-free access via a lift

Weddings at St George’s Church

The church was popular as a venue for high society weddings in the 18th and 19th centuries, as Mayfair developed into one of the most fashionable districts in London. Notable people to get married here include:

Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
Novelist George Eliot (real name Mary Anne Evans Lewes)
Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
American president Theodore Roosevelt

The church still holds weddings today.

St George’s Church and Handel

St George’s Church had a very well-known parishioner in the 1700s – the renowned German-British composer George Frideric Handel. He influenced the installation of the church’s organ and helped to choose an organist. He regularly worshipped at St George’s and lived nearby in Brook Street.

You can visit the house where he lived, which is now the Handel Hendrix House museum, combining Handel’s number 25 home and the flat of musician and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who lived at 23 Brook Street. There is an admission charge for the museum, but it’s an excellent activity for music lovers.

Architectural features of St George’s Church

One of the most interesting things about St George’s Church is its striking architecture. Its classical frontage features six Corinthian columns that support a pediment, resembling an ancient Roman temple. It was one of the first churches in England to be built this way, sparking something of a trend.

Look above the columns and you’ll see an ornate bell tower with a clock. There is a single bell inside this tower, and above it sits a ball and vane made from copper.

Inside St George’s Church

It’s not just the outside of the church that’s remarkable, the inside is pretty special, too. Interior features include:

A large painting of The Last Supper by William Kent, framed by carvings
Stained glass dating back to the 1500s from Antwerp
A mounted organ console

Events at St George’s Church

St George’s Church plays host to a variety of music events throughout the year, including classical recitals, orchestral evenings, and candlelight concerts. Some of the events are free to attend, while others charge an admission fee.

Mayfair Organ Concerts

Organ concerts take place fortnightly at St George’s Church on Tuesdays from 1.10pm. These are free to attend, however, donations to the collection are gratefully received. On alternate Tuesdays, the concerts are at Grosvenor Chapel.

How to get to St George’s Church from YHA London Central

St George’s Church is less than a mile away from YHA London Central. The quickest and easiest ways to get there are by walking or cycling.

On foot: It should take around 15 minutes to walk from the Youth Hostel to St George’s Church.

Cycling: It’s about a seven-minute cycle to St George’s Church from YHA London Central.

By public transport: The journey takes approximately 15 minutes by bus. You can catch the 453 or 88 bus routes from New Cavendish Street, or the 22 bus from Oxford Circus Station.

If you’re travelling from elsewhere in London, the nearest tube stations to St George’s Church are:

Oxford Circus
Bond Street
Piccadilly Circus
Green Park

By car: It’s around a nine-minute drive from YHA London Central to St George’s Church. There are some parking spaces on St George Street, near the church. There is a charge to use them Monday to Saturday in the daytime. Other nearby car parks include Cavendish Square and Old Burlington Street.