Monthly tour of St Mary Islington church and tower climb

St Mary the Virgin — better known as St Mary's Islington — is running its monthly tour and tower climb on Saturday 16 January, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. It's the first of a few coming up, with the same tour running on 13 February and 13 March, so if the January date doesn't work, you've got a couple more to choose from.

The tour takes you through the history of Islington's first parish church, which has stood at the heart of the area around Upper Street, between Angel and Highbury, since the 12th century. The medieval building was demolished in 1751-54 and rebuilt in a classical style by Lancelot Dowbiggin, with a Portland stone portico added by Reginald Blomfield in 1903-04. It's a Grade II listed building, and it's seen its fair share of change over the centuries: on 9 September 1940, during the Blitz, the nave was destroyed, leaving only the tower and spire; it was rebuilt and reconsecrated in 1956.

There's a long list of names attached to the place. Robert Browne lectured here in the late 1500s; Charles Wesley was curate in 1738-39; the Jacobean dramatist John Webster married here in 1606. Later, it was home to F. Donald Coggan, who became Archbishop of Canterbury, and David Sheppard, who became Bishop of Liverpool. The tour lets you trace those connections through the building.

The second half is the tower climb. The tower reaches nearly 50m, and from the top you get a panoramic view across London. A couple of practical things to keep in mind: the climb involves walking up a narrow spiral staircase, and space at the top is limited. The tour runs from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, and tickets are £16.96.