This is one of two churches (St Clement Danes is the other) located on islands in the centre of the Strand, the wide street that was once the main road between Old London and Westminster. There has been a church on this site since 1147 or earlier, with a certain interruption as we shall see. It is now used for recitals and exhibitions. In 1984 a slide presentation of ‘Our Christian Heritage’ was shown here several times a day.
When the powerful duke of Somerset, uncle of the young King Edward VI, built his riverside mansion, the old church that stood on the site was simply done away with, with no compensation to the parishioners. For the next 174 years there was no place of worship in the area at all. The present building was consecrated in 1723. Architect James Gibbs made excellent use of its prominent location, combining a rounded porch on the west end facing the Strand with a highly creative steeple. So attractive was the completed building that when Gibbs was asked to compete for the contract for St Martin-inthe- Fields, he took the committee to see St Mary-le- Strand and immediately won their approval.