St Magnus the Martyr: Difference between revisions

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| location = [[London]], {{postcode|EC|3}}

'''St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge''', is a [[Church of England]] [[church (building)|church]] and [[parish]] within the [[City of London]]. The church, which is located in [[Thames Street (London)|Lower Thames Street]] near [[Monument to the Great Fire of London|The Monument]] to the [[Great Fire of London]],<ref>See [http://www.themonument.info/history/st_magnus_the_martyr.asp The Monument] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722000924/http://www.themonument.info/history/st_magnus_the_martyr.asp |date=22 July 2011 }}</ref> is part of the [[Diocese of London]] and under the pastoral care of the [[Bishop of Fulham]].<ref>[http://www.sswsh.com/diocese-detail.php?id=133 Bishop of Fulham]</ref> It is a Grade I [[listed building]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England |num=1064601 |access-date=9 July 2015}}</ref> The rector uses the title "Cardinal Rector" and, since the abolition of the [[College of Minor Canons#Cardinals|College of Minor Canons]] of St Paul's Cathedral in 2016, is the only cleric in the Church of England to use the title Cardinal''cardinal''.<ref>See http://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/</ref>

St Magnus is the guild church of the [[Worshipful Company of Fishmongers]] and the [[Worshipful Company of Plumbers]], and the ward church of the Ward of [[Bridge and Bridge Without]]. It is also twinned with the [[Church of the Resurrection (Manhattan)|Church of the Resurrection]] in [[New York City]].<ref>See [http://www.resurrectionnyc.org/sister.html Church of the Resurrection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727213232/http://www.resurrectionnyc.org/sister.html |date=27 July 2011 }}</ref>

Its prominent location and beauty have prompted many mentions in literature.<ref>"Before the erection of Adelaide House, to approach the City from Southwark was to enjoy as fine a sight as any in London. In the foreground were the ships in the Pool ... while the morning light glinted upon the glorious tower of Wren's church of St Magnus the Martyr, the Customs House and the golden flames of the Monument." 'The Times', 8 November 1927</ref> In ''[[Oliver Twist]]'', [[Charles Dickens]] notes how, as Nancy heads for her secret meeting with Mr Brownlow and Rose Maylie on London Bridge, "the tower of old [[Southwark Cathedral|Saint Saviour's Church]], and the spire of Saint Magnus, so long the giant-warders of the ancient bridge, were visible in the gloom". The church's spiritual and architectural importance is celebrated in the poem ''[[The Waste Land]]'' by [[T. S. Eliot]], who wrote, "the walls of Magnus Martyr hold/Inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold". He added in a footnote that "the interior of St. Magnus Martyr is to my mind one of the finest among Wren's interiors".<ref>Where fishmen lounge at noon: where the walls<br />Of Magnus Martyr hold<br />Inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold.<br />''The Waste Land and other poems'', lines 263 to 265, Eliot, T.S.: Faber & Faber, London, 1940. For commentaries, see chapter 2 of ''Anglo-Catholic in Religion – T.S. Eliot and Christianity'' by Barry Spurr, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-7188-3073-1}} and ''Liturgical Influences of Anglo-Catholicism on The Waste Land and Other Works by [[T. S. Eliot]]'' by A. Lee Fjordbotten, 1999 at [http://anglicanhistory.org/academic/fjordbotten1999 Liturgical Influences]. Spurr notes that St Magnus "was one of the leading shrines of the Anglo-Catholic movement and it is very notable that Eliot should not only refer to it, but, in the midst of a poem of almost unrelieved negativity, present it so positively (if somewhat uncomprehendingly) in terms of the exquisite beauty of its interior: its ‘Inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold’ (the liturgical colours, we should note, of Eastertide and resurrection, a concept otherwise denied repeatedly throughout The Waste Land)".</ref> One biographer of Eliot notes that at first he enjoyed St Magnus aesthetically for its "splendour"; later he appreciated its "utility" when he came there as a sinner.<ref>''Eliot's Early Years'', Gordon, L.: Oxford, 1978 {{ISBN|978-0-19-281252-0}}</ref>

The originalprincipal churchargument pre-datedagainst thean canonisationassociation of Stwith Magnus of Orkney is that the original church pre-dated his sanctification by around a century, and was also probably constructed before the cult of [[Olaf II of Norway|St Olaf]], which did not become established in London until the 1050s.<ref>''The Cult of S. Olave in the British Isles'', B. Dickens in Saga-Book XII of the Viking Society, 12 (1945) pp 53-8053–80.</ref> The dedication of the church to St Magnus (as for the four City churches dedicated to [[Botwulf of Thorney|St Botolph]]) at least partly reflected interest in particular saints' relics during the 11th century. There was a cultuscult toof this earlier (unidentified) St Magnus before the Norman Conquest;: several English monastic houses claimed to have relics of the saint;<ref>These included Westminster, Peterborough and Salisbury and a relic list of Exeter Cathedral notes: "Hec sunt nomina sanctarum reliquaram que habentur in ecclesia sacte Marie et sancti Petri Exonie ecclesie, quarum maximam partem gloriossimus rex Aedelstanus eiusdem ecclesie primus fundator ibidem contulit.... De reliquiis sancti Magni episcopis et martiris."''Anglo-Saxon Exeter: A Tenth-century Cultural History'', Patrick W. Conner (1993).</ref> [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]] gave one to [[Westminster Abbey]];<ref>[[John Flete]]’s's manuscript history of the Abbey, written in the 1440s, records: “rex"rex Edgarus dedit lapides quibus sanctus Stephanus lapidatus fuit, et quaedam ossa cum sanguine ejusdem ; tibiam unam cum costis et aliis minutis ossibus sanctorum Innocentium ; item duas costas et terram infectam sanguine sancti Laurentii, tres costas sancti Hippolyti, dentes sanctorum Magni et Symphoriani, cum cruce sancti Felicis item reliquias sancti Georgii et Sebastiani cum aliis”aliis" [https://archive.org/details/historyofwestmin00flet/page/70/mode/1up?q=magni The history of Westminster Abbey]</ref> and the relic collection of [[Peterborough Abbey]] included the hand of St Magnus the Martyr as well as the famous arm of [[Oswald of Northumbria|St Oswald]].<ref>''The Chronicle of Hugh Candidus, a Monk of Peterborough'', ed. W.T. Mellows (1949). This relic may have been collected by Abbot Ælfsige of Peterborough, who accompanied Queen Emma into temporary exile in 1013. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in that year that "the lady [Queen Emma of Normandy] went afterwards over sea to her brother Richard, accompanied by Elfsy [Ælfsige/Elsinus/Elsige] Abbot of Peterborough. The king sent Bishop Elfun with the ethelings, Edward and Alfred, over sea; that he might instruct them. Then went the king from the fleet, about midwinter, to the Isle of Wight; and there abode for the season; after which he went over sea to Richard, with whom he abode till the time when Sweyne died. Whilst the lady was with her brother beyond sea, Elfsy, Abbot of Peterborough, who was there with her, went to the abbey called Boneval, where St. Florentine's body lay; and there found a miserable place, a miserable abbot, and miserable monks: because they had been plundered. There he bought of the abbot, and of the monks, the body of St. Florentine, all but the head, for 500 pounds; which, on his return home, he offered to Christ and St. Peter.”</ref> The feast of St Magnus the Martyr, celebrated on 19 August, appears in most liturgical calendars from the [[Gelasian Sacramentary]] in the eighth century<ref>See propers for "XIV Kal. Septembres in natali sancti Magni" [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b60000317/f215.item.zoom Gelasian Sacramentary]. The [[Old English Martyrology]], compiled in the second half of the 9th century, records that "on the nineteenth day of the month [August] is the feast of the martyr St Magnus, whose mass can be found in the older massbooks" ''The Old English Martyrology: Edition, Translation and Commentary'', ed. Christine Rauer, 2013. It has been suggested -– see ''Biblical Commentaries from the Canterbury School of Theodore and Hadrian'', ed. Bernhard Bischoff and Michael Lapidge (1994) -– that the "older mass books" may refer more to those of Campanian origin, perhaps brought to England by [[Adrian of Canterbury]] that to the Gelasian Sacramentary.</ref> and the missal of [[Robert of Jumièges]] in the 11th century<ref>"The 'Missal'The ‘Missal’ of Robert of Jumièges and manuscript illumination at Peterborough c. 1015–1035''", T. A. Heslop in ''Peterborough and the Soke'' (2019). See [https://archive.org/details/missalrobertjum00wilsgoog/page/n283/mode/2up Missal]</ref> to the 16th century.<ref>See the [https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMINBig.ASP?size=big&IllID=30502 Westminster Psalter (c.1200)], the [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t1kh0kp3z&view=1up&seq=346&q1=310 Sarum Missal], [https://books.google.com/books?id=jAMNAAAAIAAJ Westminster Use], [https://archive.org/details/herefordbreviary01cath/page/n23/mode/2up?q=magni Hereford breviary], [https://archive.org/details/missalofstaugust00cath/page/105/mode/1up?q=magno+martyre+ The missal of St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury], [https://archive.org/details/ancientkalendar45oxfouoft/page/52/mode/2up?q=magni University of Oxford], [https://usuarium.elte.hu/calendarlabel/859/view Database for the Study of Latin Liturgical History] and [http://www.cokldb.org/cgi-bin/saint_detail.pl?saint_id=439 Corpus Kalendarium]</ref>

It The original dedication of the church mayis therefore, as noted by [[Richard Thomson (antiquarian)|Richard Thomson]] in his ''Chronicles of London Bridge'' of 1827,<ref>"I do not find the Patron Saint of this edifice is at all mentioned by Alban Butler; nor are all writers perfectly agreed as to who he actually was; seeinglikely that there were two saints named Magnus, whose festival day was kept on the 19thoriginal of August. Onededication of these was Bishop of Anagnia in Italy, and was martyred in the persecution raised by the Emperors Decius and Valerian, about the middle of the third century after the Birth of Christ. The other St Magnuschurch was the person to whom Newcourt supposed this Church was dedicated, though he erroneously calls his feast August the 18th. He is named, by way of distinction, St [[Magnus the Martyr of CaesareaAnagni]], ina Cappadocia,putative becausesecond-century he suffered at that Citybishop, under Alexander the Governor,martyred in the timereign of the Emperor Aurelian, AD 276.... An extended history of these famous men you will find in that wonderful work the ''Acta Sanctorum'', which I have before quoted ... though there is a much longer account of the Swedish St Magnus, the Abbot[[Decius]], whose festivalfeast iswas Septembercelebrated theon 6th,19 and whom I pray you never to mistake for the Martyr of London BridgeAugust."</ref> have been to St [[Magnus of Anagni]] (Sancti Magni martiris et episcopi Tranensis),<ref>See: [https://archive.org/details/actasanctorum37unse/page/n738/mode/1up Acta Sanctorum]. The feasts of St [[Magnus of Cuneo]], a soldier of the Theban Legion, and the seventh century bishop St [[Magnus of Avignon]] also fall on 19 August, but the latter was a confessor rather than a martyr and the former does not generally appear in martyrologies. Bede's Martyrology notes for 19 August "XIV. Kal. Natale S. Magni, seu S. Andreæ, cum sociis suis duobus millibus quingentis nonaginta septem. Præfigunt A. T. L. In Alexandria: ast A. et T. sic distinguunt. In Alexandria natale S. Magni et S. Andreæ martyrum. Eodem die natale S. Mariani cum duobus millibus quingentis nonaginta septem. Deinde addunt: Romæ natale S. Magni martyris." [https://oll.libertyfund.org/title/giles-the-complete-works-of-venerable-bede-vol-4-historical-tracts-english-and-latin Bede]. Sabine Baring-Gould's [[The Lives of the Saints (Baring-Gould)|'Lives of the Saints']] concluded that: "It can hardly be doubted that S. Magnus, Bishop and Martyr, has been manufactured by the blunders of martyrologists. [[Andrew Stratelates|S. Andrew the Tribune]] is commemorated in ... Latin [as] "Magnus Martyr". In the early Latin lists, on 19 August, was accordingly inscribed "Andreas Tribunus, Magnus Martyr". This was read as if there were two Saints, Andrew the Tribune, and Magnus the Martyr". [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/The_Lives_of_the_Saints_Volume_9.pdf Lives of the Saints]. See also ''The martiloge in Englysshe after the vse of the chirche of Salisbury and as it is redde in Syon with addicyons'', ed. F. Proctor and E.S. Dewick, printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1526.</ref> aThis putativeidentification third-centurywas bishopproposed whoby was[[Richard martyredThomson (antiquarian)|Richard Thomson]] in thehis reign''Chronicles of London Bridge'' of 1827,<ref>"I do not find the EmperorPatron [[Decius]]Saint andof whosethis relicsedifice wereis translatedat fromall Fondimentioned toby VeroliAlban andButler; thennor are all writers perfectly agreed as to Anangniwho inhe actually was; seeing that there were two saints named Magnus, whose festival day was kept on the 9th19th century.<ref>Seeof [https://archiveAugust.org/details/actasanctorum37unse/page/n745/mode/1up Translatio],One [[Abbeyof these was Bishop of SanAnagnia Magno,in Fondi]]Italy, [[Anagniand Cathedral]],was [[Santimartyred Michelein ethe Magno,persecution Rome]]raised by the Emperors Decius and [https://www.frisiacoasttrail.com/post/2019/09/23/Magnus-Choice-The-Origins-Valerian, about the middle of- the-Frisian-Freedom Frisianthird Freedom].century after Vaticanthe CodexBirth Sof Christ. PietroThe F.13other includesSt aMagnus Sacramentarywas andthe Kalendarperson usedto atwhom AnagniNewcourt Cathedralsupposed this Church was dedicated, withthough thehe erroneously calls his feast August the 18th. He is named, by way of distinction, St Magnus rubricatedthe andMartyr of Caesarea, in Cappadocia, because he suffered at that City, under Alexander the additionGovernor, in the time of athe feastEmperor Aurelian, AD 276.... An extended history of these famous men you will find in that wonderful work the ''Inventio corporis sanctiActa MagniSanctorum'', onwhich 20I April.have before quoted [https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Arch.Cap.S.Pietro.F.13 Sthough there is a much longer account of the Swedish St Magnus, the Abbot, whose festival is September the 6th, and whom I pray you never to mistake for the Martyr of London Bridge.Pietro.F.13]"</ref> and has more recently been argued at greater length by Matthew Payne and Michael Cooper.<ref name="p&c"/> It is possible that the dedication might also have beenwas influenced by [[Cnut the Great#Journey to Rome|Cnut]]'s journey to Rome in 1027 or by the translation to Canterbury in 1023 of the remains of [[Ælfheah of Canterbury|Alphage]], Bishop and Martyr, from [[St Paul's Cathedral]], where a cult had rapidly developed at his tomb.<ref>''The cult of St Thomas in the liturgy and iconography of Christ Church, Canterbury'', M-P Gelin in ''The Cult of St Thomas Becket in the Plantagenet World, C.1170-c.1170–c.1220'' (2016)</ref><ref name="p&c"/>

The feast on 19 August was still celebrated in the 16th century. It was included in an "Almanack" attached to [[Miles Coverdale]]'s translation of the Bible<ref>''The newe testament both Latine and Englyshe ech correspondent to the other after the vulgare texte, communely called S. Ieroms. Faythfully translated by Myles Couerdale. Anno. M.CCCCC.XXXVIII'' [http://tei.it.ox.ac.uk/tcp/Texts-HTML/free/A16/A16017.html Coverdale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418064450/http://tei.it.ox.ac.uk/tcp/Texts-HTML/free/A16/A16017.html |date=18 April 2021 }}</ref> and in the ''Preces Privitae'' of 1564 (authorised by Elizabeth I for private devotion), but was excluded from the Book of Common Prayer.<ref>"The Book of Common Prayer adopted the Sarum temporal calendar almost in full (keeping all of the feasts of Christ and that of the Purification of the Virgin), but only the barest bones of its sanctoral calendar, namely the Biblical saints. Only a few services for the Biblical saints remained in the Book of Common Prayer". ''`Nothing for the godly to fear': Use of Sarum Influence on the 1549 Book of Common Prayer'', K.A. Krick-Pridgeon, Durham PhD thesis (2018)</ref> It was also omitted from the [[Tridentine Calendarcalendar#August|Tridentine Calendarcalendar]], falling as it did within the [[Octave (liturgy)#Modern history|Octave of the Assumption]], but has remained in local calendars.<ref>Such as that of the Diocese of Anagni–Alatri</ref> St [[Magnus of Anagni]] also remains in the ''[[Roman Martyrology|Martyrologium Romanum]]''.<ref>Latest edition 2001: “Anagniae"Anagniae sancti Magni Episcopi et Martyris qui in perecutione Decii necatus est”est".</ref>

The archaeological record suggests that the area of the bridgehead was not occupied from the early 5th century until the early 10th century. Environmental evidence indicates that the area was waste ground during this period, colonised by elder and nettles. Following [[Alfred the Great]]'s decision to reoccupy the walled area of London in 886, new harbours were established at Queenhithe and Billingsgate.<ref>It has been argued recently that a wooden London Bridge might have been constructed at the same time: ''The development of London by King Alfred: a reassessment'', J Haslam, TLAMAS 60 (2010)</ref> A wooden bridge was in place by the early 11th century,<ref>"According to the Olaf sagas, the bridge was successfully attacked in 1014 by King Aethelred’sAethelred's Viking allies…. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that in 1016 the Southwark bridge head and the London bridge was defended against the forces of King Cnut, who apparently bypassed it by digging a new channel along which they hauled their ships westwards. According to Osbern’sOsbern's late 11th-century account of the transfer of the relics of [[Ælfheah of Canterbury|Alphege]] from St Paul’sPaul's Cathedral to Christ Church Canterbury in 1023, some of Cnut’sCnut's housecarls occupied the bridge while the relics were in transit in case of public hostility. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that on 14 September 1052 Earl Godwin’sGodwin's forces sailed unopposed through the bridge, having first waited for high tide, and keeping close to the south bank." ''London bridge: 2000 years of a river crossing'', B. Watson, MOLAS monograph (2001)</ref> a factor which would have encouraged the occupation of the bridgehead by craftsmen and traders.<ref>See ''Current archaeological work at Regis House in the City of London (part 2)'' by Trevor Brigham and Bruce Watson at [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-457-1/dissemination/pdf/vol08/vol08_03/08_03_063_069.pdf Regis House] and Figure 182 ''Location map of London sites'' at [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/cbaresrep/pdf/098/09808003.pdf Archaeological Sites]</ref> During the 10th and 11th centuries, as overseas trade revived, the landing places immediately downstream of the bridge became ever more significant. Streets were laid out in the vicinity of the bridge leading from the river into the eastern part of the City. Fish Street Hill, leading from the bridge itself to Bishopsgate, originated earlier.<ref>''London Bridge and the identity of the medieval City'', D. Keene, TLAMAS (2000)</ref>

St Magnus was purportedly granted by William I in 1067 to [[Westminster Abbey]].<ref>"Similiter ecclesiam Sancti Laurentii cum cimiterio et dominicam curiam suam et terras quas in patrimonio jure possederat quidam clericus Livingus nomine in eadem urbe pro salute anime sue et parentum suorum libere et absolute Sancto Petro donavit et ego melius et liberius confirmari precepi; item plenarie et firmiter concessi unam capellam ligneam et unius lapidee ecclesie Sancti Magni medietatem prope pontem et terras suas omnes in eadem urbe quas quidam urbanus vir prefate civitatis nomine Livincgus pater cum filio jam ibi monachus factus, uxor quoque sua ibidem deo sacrata sancta illi monasterio subdiderant". "Also the church of St Lawrence with its churchyard and the demesne court and lands held in inheritance by a certain clerk named Livingus, and given to him to St Peter’sPeter's. Also a wooden chapel, and the moiety of the stone church of St Magnus near the bridge, and all the lands in the same city which a certain man named Livingus together with his son when he became a monk, and his wife when she devoted herself to a holy life, gave to the monastery."

See [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000086172677&view=1up&seq=355&q1=1335 Charter].</ref> Although this charter is generally accepted to be a later forgery by [[Osbert of Clare]], Prior of Westminster Abbey,<ref>BL Cotton Charter VI 3; see ''Westminster Abbey Charters, 1066 – c.1214'', London Record Society 25, Mason, E. (ed.), pp. 25–40: 1988; [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000086172677&view=1up&seq=355&q1=1335 Text of Charter] and ''London: the City Churches'' Pevsner, N and Bradley, S: New Haven, Yale, 1998 {{ISBN|0-300-09655-0}}</ref> as is a charter of confirmation in 1108–16,<ref>''Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum, 1066–1154'', Vol. 2, No. 1177: Oxford, 1913. See [https://archive.org/details/regestaregumangl02grea/page/140/mode/2up Charter]. The text is as follows: "[1108–16, Apr.] London Precept by Henry I to G. Bp. of London and the Archdeacon and the whole chapter of St Paul's: That the Abbot and church of St Peter's, Westminster, have and hold the land which William I gave them; namely, the wooden chapel of St Margaret in Eastcheap, with the parish (parochia) and land and houses thereto pertaining; and half the stone chapel of St Magnus the Martyr with the whole parish; and the church of St Lawrence with appurtenances; and the church of St James on the river bank; as they held in the time of William I and of the King himself, and of Bps. Hugh and Maurice. Witnesses: Queen Matilda; R. Basset." As explained in ''Fake? The art of deception'' by Mark Jones (ed.), British Museum, 1990, "possession of royal writs constituting written evidence of the conferment of favourable rights and immunities was of such importance to great early monastic foundations like Westminster ... Abbey that they sometimes produced spurious ones where the genuine article was lacking".</ref> it may preserve genuine evidence of a foundation of the church in the 11th century.<ref>''Proposed demolition of nineteen city churches. Report by the clerk of the council and the architect of the council'', London County Council, p. 14 and p. 18: London, 1920 [https://archive.org/details/cu31924015376233/page/n41/mode/2up?view=theater LCC Report]. As the original dedication was not to St Magnus of Orkney, the date of that saint's death cannot be used as a [[terminus post quem]] for the foundation of the church as suggested in, for example, ''The Medieval Church dedications of the City of London'', Oxley, J., LAMAS 29: 1978. The reference in the charter to "the stone church of St Magnus near the bridge and all the lands in the same city which a certain man named Livingus together with his son when he became a monk, and his wife when she devoted herself to a holy life, gave to the monastery" is similar to a reference of 1076 in the [[Trial of Penenden Heath]] to the “lands"lands and houses which Livingus, priest, and his wife, had in London”London". Archbishop Lanfranc served a writ for the restitution of lands of which the churches had been unlawfully disseised in 1067 when Odo became Earl of Kent. See [https://archive.org/details/placitaanglonorm00bige/page/6/mode/2up?q=Livingus Penenden Heath trial]. See also ''The earliest mention of Bow Church'', BW Kissan, TLAMAS (1933)</ref> There is a further document referring to the church in 1128–33.<ref>''Gazetteer'', Carlin, M. and Belcher, V. in ''British atlas of historic towns: Vol. 3, The City of London'', Lobel, M.D. (ed.): Oxford, 1989, quoting ''Regesta Regum Anglo-Normannorum, 1066–1154'', Vol. 2, No. 1883: Oxford, 1913. See [https://archive.org/details/regestaregumangl02grea/page/284/mode/2up Charter]. The text is as follows: "[1128–33] Woodstock: Precept by Henry I to G[ilbert] Bp. of London and the Archdeacon and the whole Chapter of St. Paul's: That the Abbot and church of St. Peter of Westminster and their priest shall hold the church of St Magnus the Martyr in London, and the whole parish pertaining thereto as well and honourably as in the time of William I and William II and of Bps. Hugh, Maurice, and Richard. They are not to be impleaded therefor. Witness: Richard Basset."</ref> In the second half of the 12th century control of the [[advowson]] of St Magnus was disputed between the Abbot of Westminster and the Prior of Bermondsey. The case was resolved in the [[Curia Regis]] on 23 April 1182, with the advowson being divided equally between them.<ref>''Westminster Abbey and its People, c. 1050-c.1216'', Mason, E., p.244, Woodbridge, 1996 {{ISBN|978-0-85115-396-4}} See [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol25/pp144-159 Westminster Abbey Charters]</ref> Later in the 1180s, on their joint presentation, the Archdeacon of London inducted his nephew as parson.<ref>''Westminster Abbey Charters, 1066 –'' c. 1214'', Mason, E. (ed.), pp. 144–159 and pp. 197–228: London Record Society 25 (1988)</ref> On 14 April 1208, again on the joint presentation of the Abbot of Westminster and the Prior of Bermondsey, the Bishop of London instituted Simon de Valenciis to St Magnus.<ref>''Westminster Abbey and its People, c. 1050-c.1216'', Mason, E., p.138, Woodbridge, 1996 {{ISBN|978-0-85115-396-4}}. The full text is as follows: "14 April 1208 Notification by William [de Ste Mère Eglise], bishop of London, that at the presentation of the abbot & convent of Westminster, patrons of half the church of St Magnus the Martyr next to London Bridge, and at the presentation of the prior & convent of Bermondsey, patrons of the other half, he has instituted to the church Mr Simon de Valenciis, clerk, reserving to the abbots of Westminster and the prior of Bermondsey and convents the pensionis which they formerly received from that church. Simon will answer for all obligations due to the bishop or archdeacon" (Westminster Abbey Charters 1066–c.1214, 220).</ref>

Between the late [[Anglo-Saxon London|Saxon]] period and 1209 there was a series of wooden bridges across the [[River Thames|Thames]], but in that year a stone bridge was completed.<ref>''Old London Bridge'', Pierce, P., p. 41: London, 2001, {{ISBN|0-7472-3493-0}}</ref> The work was overseen by Peter of [[Colechurch]], a priest and head of the Fraternity of the Brethren of London Bridge. The Church had from early times encouraged the building of bridges and this activity was so important it was perceived to be an act of piety – a commitment to God which should be supported by the giving of alms. London’sLondon's citizens made gifts of land and money "to God and the Bridge".<ref>See [http://www.bridgehousegrants.org.uk/CityBridgeTrust/TheTrust/History.htm City Bridge Trust] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429183228/http://www.bridgehousegrants.org.uk/CityBridgeTrust/TheTrust/History.htm |date=29 April 2007 }}</ref> The [[Bridge House Estates]] became part of the City's jurisdiction in 1282.

In 1274 "came King [[Edward I of England|Edward]] and his wife [Eleanor] from the Holy Land and were crowned at Westminster on the Sunday next after the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady [15 August], being the Feast of Saint Magnus [19 August]; and the Conduit in Chepe ran all the day with red wine and white wine to drink, for all such as wished."<ref>''The French Chronicle of London: Edward I, Chronicles of the Mayors and Sheriffs of London: 1188–1274'', [[Henry Thomas Riley|Riley, H. T.]] (ed.), pp. 237–248: |page=1863</ref> Edward I's eldest son, [[Alphonso, Earl of Chester]], died at Windsor on the feast of St Magnus, 19 August 1284.<ref>''The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester ... comprising Annals of English History, from the Departure of the Romans to the Reign of Edward I'', p. 370, translated by T. Forester (1854)</ref> Stow records that "in the year 1293, for victory obtained by Edward I against the Scots, every citizen, according to their several trade, made their several show, but especially the fishmongers" whose solemn procession including a knight "representing St Magnus, because it was upon St Magnus' day".

Alderman Hugh Pourt, fishmonger and Sheriff of London, and his wife Margaret founded a perpetual chantry at the start of the 14th century.<ref>Repertorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense, Richard Newcourt (1708), p. 396, quoting from the Bishop's Register of Ralph de Baldock/Baudake. See also Pourt's will of 1307/08 in ''Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Husting, London: Part 1, 1258-13581258–1358'', ed. R R Sharpe (London, 1889), pp. 189-199: "Pourte (Hugh) — To John le Blound a house. To Margaret his wife the custody of William his son until he come of age, and to the said William forty pounds. Certain rents in the parish of S. Magnus to be devoted to the maintenance of a chantry in the said parish church. To the fabric of London Bridge twenty shillings."</ref> An important religious guild, the Confraternity de [[Salve Regina]], was in existence by 1343, having been founded by the "better sort of the Parish of St Magnus" to sing the anthem 'Salve Regina' every evening.<ref>''Chronicles of London Bridge by an Antiquary'', p. 298-9 quoting Stow's 'Survey': Smith, Elder and Co., London, 1827</ref> The Guild certificates of 1388/89 (12 Richard II) record that the Confraternity of Salve Regina and the guild of St Thomas the Martyr in the chapel on the bridge, whose members belonged to St Magnus parish, had determined to become one, to have the anthem of St Thomas after the Salve Regina and to devote their united resources to restoring and enlarging the church of St Magnus.<ref>''The gilds and companies of London'', Unwin, G. (with a new introduction by Kahl, W.F), p. 115: London, 1963. See also [http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C5908296 Fraternity of the Salutation of Our Lady and of St Thomas in the church of St Magnus near London Bridge].</ref> An Actact of Parliament of 1437<ref>, the [[Guilds and Fraternities Act 1436]] ([[15 HenryHen. VI6]]. Capc. 6</ref>), provided that all incorporated fraternities and companies should register their charters and have their ordinances approved by the civic authorities.<ref>''Worlds within Worlds: Structures of Life in Sixteenth-Century London'' (Cambridge Studies in Population, Economy and Society in Past Time), Rappaport, S., p. 184: Cambridge, 1989 (paperback edition 2002), {{ISBN|978-0521892216}}. See also ''Historical Studies of the English Parliament: Volume 2: 1399–1603'', Fryde, E.B. and Miller, E. (eds), pp. 129–131: Cambridge, 1970</ref> Fear of enquiry into their privileges may have led established fraternities to seek a firm foundation for their rights. The letters patent of the fraternity of St Mary and St Thomas the Martyr of Salve Regina in St Magnus dated 26 May 1448 mention that the fraternity had petitioned for a charter on the grounds that the society was not duly founded.<ref>See [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64559 Parish Fraternity Register], [http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/patentrolls/h6v5/body/Henry6vol5page0173.pdf Calendar of the Patent Rolls 26 May 1448 #1] and [http://sdrc.lib.uiowa.edu/patentrolls/h6v5/body/Henry6vol5page0174.pdf Calendar of the Patent Rolls 26 May 1448 #2]</ref>

[[Henry Yevele]], the master mason whose work included the rebuilding of [[Palace of Westminster#Westminster Hall|Westminster Hall]], the naves of [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[Canterbury Cathedral]] and the tomb of John of Gaunt and his first wife Blanche of Lancaster in [[Old St Paul's Cathedral|old St Paul’sPaul's]], was a parishioner and rebuilt the chapel on London Bridge between 1384 and 1397. He served as a warden of London Bridge and was buried at St Magnus on his death in 1400. His monument was extant in [[John Stow]]'s time, but was probably destroyed by the [[Great Fire of London|fire of 1666]].<ref>Oxford DNB entry, Wilson, C.</ref>

Yevele, as the King’sKing's Mason, was overseen by [[Geoffrey Chaucer]] in his capacity as the Clerk of the King's Works. In ''[[The General Prologue]]'' of [[Geoffrey Chaucer|Chaucer]]'s ''[[The Canterbury Tales]]'' the five guildsmen "were clothed alle in o lyveree Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee"<ref>General Prologue Lines 363–366</ref> and may be thought of as belonging to the guild in the parish of St Magnus, or one like it.<ref>''The world of Chaucer'', Brewer D., p. 143: 2000 (first published 1978) {{ISBN|978-0-85991-607-3}}. For a more detailed discussion of the guildsmen see ''Portrait of the Guildsmen'' in the critical commentary of ''The General Prologue'' by Malcolm Andrew, pp. 326–337 (University of Oklahoma, 1993) and ''The Five Craftsmen'' by Ann B. Fullerton in Modern Language Notes 61 (1946), pp. 515–523. Fullerton suggested that the Guildsmen would probably have been members of a fraternity dedicated to St Thomas and pointed out that the united Guild in the parish of St Magnus was of considerable wealth and prestige.</ref> Chaucer's family home was near to the bridge in Thames Street.<ref>''The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer: A Critical Biography'', Pearsall, D., 1994 (first published 1992): Oxford, {{ISBN|978-1-55786-665-3}}</ref> St Magnus appears several times in Anya Seton's historical novel [[Katherine (Seton novel)|''Katherine'']], which is set in the 14th century.<ref>''Katherine'', Seton A, 1954</ref>

In 1417 a dispute arose concerning who should take the place of honour amongst the rectors in the City churches at the [[Whit Monday]] procession, a place that had been claimed from time to time by the rectors of [[St Peter upon Cornhill|St Peter Cornhill]], St Magnus the Martyr and [[St Nicholas Cole Abbey]]. The Mayor and Aldermen decided that the Rector of [[St Peter upon Cornhill|St Peter Cornhill]] should take precedence.<ref>''[[Calendar of letter-books of the city of London]] I: 1400–1422'', Sharpe, Reginald R. (ed), pp. 186–195: |page=1909</ref>

Dr John Young, Bishop of [[Titular See of Callipolis|Callipolis]] (rector of St Magnus 1514–15) pronounced judgement on 16 December 1514 (with the Bishop of London and in the presence of Thomas More, then under-sheriff of London) in the heresy case concerning [[Richard Hunne]].<ref>Foxe's Acts and Monuments vol iv, p 183-205</ref> In the summer of 1527, Thomas Bilney preached a sermon at St Magnus criticising its newly-erected rood, awaiting gilding, as idolatrous.<ref>''Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation'', Peter Marshall (2017): “Even"Even at a time of high ‘heresy alert’, pulpits remained open to radical itinerant preachers, either because of sympathy for their views or because locals had no reason to suspect them of being heretics. In this way, in the summer of 1527, Thomas Bilney and Thomas Arthur espoused an excoriating critique of images and pilgrimage in a succession of London and East Anglian parishes [including] St Magnus”Magnus".</ref> He was tried for heresy in December 1527 but recanted and was released. However, there was a co-ordinated campaign to discredit him,<ref>In 1528 the poet John Skelton published Replycacion Agaynst Certayne Yong Scolers Abjured of Late, whilst in 1529 Sir Thomas More issued a prose work, Dialogue concerning Heresies.</ref> and he was tried again in 1531 after a relapse into heresy and was burned at the stake in Norwich on 19 August (St Magnus Day) 1531. A plaque erected in 1931 to mark the 400th anniversary of his death calls him the “spiritual"spiritual father of the Reformation in England”England".

[[Maurice Griffith]] was rector here from 1537 until his death in 1558, holding the [[Bishop of Rochester|Bishopric of Rochester]] as well from 1554. His funeral, held at St Magnus, was a splendid affair, with chief mourners Sir [[William Petre]], Sir [[William Garrard]] and [[Simon Lowe alias Fyfield|Simon Lowe]].<ref>''The Diary of Henry Machyn'', Nicholas J.G. ed., Camden Society Original series 42: London, 1848, p. 180.</ref> These last two were parishioners. Sir [[William Garrard]], Master of the [[Worshipful Company of Haberdashers|Haberdashers' Company]], Alderman, Sheriff of London in 1553/53, Lord Mayor in 1555/56 and a Member of Parliament was born in the parish and buried at St Magnus in 1571.<ref>''The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1509 – 15581509–1558'', Bindoff, S.T. (ed):, 1982.</ref>[[Simon Lowe alias Fyfield|Simon Lowe]] was a Member of Parliament and Master of the [[Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors|Merchant Taylors' Company]] during the reign of [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]] and one of the jurors who acquitted Sir [[Nicholas Throckmorton]] in 1554.<ref>''The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1509 – 15581509–1558'', Bindoff, S.T. (ed):, 1982.</ref>

The patronage of St Magnus, having previously been in the Abbots and Convents of Westminster and Bermondsey (who presented alternativelyalternately), fell to the Crown on the suppression of the monasteries. In 1553, Queen Mary, by letters patent, granted it to the Bishop of London and his successors.<ref>Pat. 1, Mary, p. 4, m. 16. See also ''A New History of London: Including Westminster and Southwark'', Noorthouck, J., pp. 560–566: London, 1773 and ''The history and survey of London and its environs from the earliest period to the present time'', Lambert, B., p.467: London, 1806</ref> According to the martyrologist John Foxe, a woman was imprisoned in the 'cage' on London Bridge in April 1555 and told to "cool herself there" for refusing to pray at St Magnus for the recently deceased Pope Julius III.<ref>''The book of martyrs: containing an account of the suffering and death of Protestants in the reign of Queen Mary the First'', Foxe, J. revised by Madan, M., p. 162: London, 1760</ref>

St Magnus’sMagnus's rood, along with “several"several other things of superstition belonging to that church”church", were destroyed on 16 September 1559 in “an"an ebullition of Protestant zeal”zeal"<ref>[https://archive.org/details/annalsofreformat0101stry/page/254/mode/2up?q=magnus Annals]. See also ''London Churches Before the Great Fire'', W. Jenkinson, SPCK (1917).</ref> On 5 November 1562 the churchwardens were ordered to break, or cause to be broken, in two parts all the altar stones in the church.<ref>Vic.-Gen. Book, Huish, f. 169, S.H. quoted in ''Novum repertorium ecclesiasticum parochiale Londinense'', p. 273</ref> Coverdale, an anti-vestiarian, was Rector at the peak of the [[vestments controversy]]. In March 1566 Archbishop Parker caused great consternation among many clergy by his edicts prescribing what was to be worn and by his summoning the London clergy to Lambeth to require their compliance. Coverdale excused himself from attending.<ref>Oxford DNB entry, Daniell, D.</ref> Stow records that a non-conforming Scot who normally preached at St Magnus twice a day precipitated a fight on Palm Sunday 1566 at Little All Hallows in Thames Street with his preaching against vestments.<ref>''Historical Memoranda'', Stow, J.: Camden Society, 1880. The text reads: "Ye same Palme Sonday in anno 1566, ye 7 of Aprill, a Scott (who prechid ij tymes every day at Sent Magnus, and mynysteryd every day to all comars of ye paryshe or eny othar in his gowne or cloke) prechid in ye afternone at Lytle Allhalows in Thams Stret. Ye moaste part of his sermon was (as the othar of his sermons were and are) agaynst ye order takyn by ye quene and councell for ye aparayll of mynystars before namyd, with very byter and vehement words agaynst ye quene not here to be namyd, and allso agaynst mynystars as receyvyd ye same ordre. The mynyster of ye churche for savgarde of his lyvynge had receyvyd ye cappe and syrplyce, where fore some tyme in ye sermon he smylyd at vehemente talke by ye prechar usyd to the contrary. Wher upon aftar ye sermon sertayne of ye paryshe, namly, Wyllson, a dyar, and Dyckynson, a fyshemonger, resonyd with ye mynystar for his smyllyng at ye prechar, who resonably aunsweryd; but they toke ye matter so grevowsly that they fell from rwghe wordes at ye last to blowes with them who toke parte with ye mynystar"</ref> Coverdale's resignation from St Magnus in summer 1566 may have been associated with these events. Separatist congregations started to emerge after 1566 and the first such, who called themselves 'Puritans' or 'Unspottyd Lambs of the Lord', was discovered close to St Magnus at Plumbers' Hall in Thames Street on 19 June 1567.<ref>''History of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers'', Young A.J., p. 86: privately printed by The Worshipful Company of Plumbers, London, 2000</ref>

The chancels of many of Wren’sWren's city churches had chequered marble floors and the chancel of St Magnus is an example,<ref>''Historic Floors: Their Care and Conservation'', Fawcett, J. (ed.): Oxford, 1998 (paperback edition 2001) {{ISBN|0-7506-2765-4}}</ref> the parish agreeing after some debate to place the communion table on a marble ascent with steps<ref>''Altars Restored: The Changing Face of English Religious Worship 1547-c.1700'', Fincham, K. and Tyacke, N., pp. 327–328: Oxford, 2007, {{ISBN|978-0-19-820700-9}}</ref> and to commission altar rails of Sussex wrought iron. The nave and aisles are paved with freestone flags. A lantern and cupola, closely modelled on the steeple built between 1614 and 1624 by [[François d'Aguilon]] and Pieter Huyssens for the church of [[Charles Borromeo|St Carolus Borromeus]] in [[Antwerp]], was added between 1703 and 1706.<ref>The steeples of the two churches are shown in ''The Old Churches of London'', Cobb, G., p.57: London, Batsford, first published 1942, third edition 1988. See also [[:nl:Carolus Borromeuskerk|Carolus Borromeuskerk]] and [http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Belgium/Flanders/Antwerpen/Antwerpen/photo1117615.htm Carolus Borromeus church]. The tower of St Magnus itself influenced William Scamp's design of the tower of St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta (built 1839–44) – see ''St Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Valletta'', Shortland-Jones, E. A.: Valletta, 2000 – and the design of the second St Philip's Church in Charleston, built in 1710–23 – see [http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/architecture.htm Charleston's church architecture].</ref> London's skyline was transformed by Wren's tall steeples and that of St Magnus is considered to be one of his finest.<ref>''Everybody's Historic London: A history and Guide'', Kiek, J.: London, 1984 {{ISBN|0-907621-39-2}}. See also ''Nicholas Hawksmoor and the Wren City church steeples'', Anthony Geraghty in The Georgian Group Journal, Vol X (2000), pp. 1-14.</ref>

As part of the bridge improvements, overseen by the architect Sir [[Robert Taylor (architect)|Sir Robert Taylor]], a new pedestrian walkway was built along the eastern side of the bridge. With the other buildings gone St Magnus blocked the new walkway.<ref>An engraving of St Magnus by [[Benjamin Cole (instrument maker)|Benjamin Cole]] immediately before the changes to the west end of the church can be found in ''The History and Survey of London from its Foundation to the Present Time'', [[William Maitland (historian)|Maitland, William]]: Osborne, Shipton & Hodges, London, 1756 (originally published in weekly numbers beginning on 29 December 1753, finishing in 1756, this was the great rival to the 1754 edition of Stow’sStow's ''Survey'').</ref> As a consequence it was necessary in 1762 to 1763 to remove the [[vestry]] rooms at the West end of the church and open up the side arches of the tower so that people could pass underneath the tower.<ref>This can be seen in a colour aquatint by William Daniell,

III: The City from London Bridge – Six Views of London, published 1 June 1804; see [http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?obj=16149 Daniell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008055642/http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?obj=16149 |date=8 October 2012 }}.</ref> The tower’stower's lower storey thus became an external porch and two windows were lost from the north facade. Internally a lobby was created at the West end under the organ gallery and a screen with fine octagonal glazing inserted. A new Vestry was built to the south of the church.<ref>''Chronicles of London Bridge by an Antiquary'', p. 545 et seq.: Smith, Elder and Co., London, 1827, which gives the following quotations from the ''Public Advertiser''. Monday 29 September 1760: "The workmen have paved a great part of the foot-path on the lower side of London Bridge and the tower part of St Magnus’ Church has been lately surveyed, in order to make some alteration in the lower part thereof, conducive to the convenience of the passage of the Bridge." Wednesday 4 August 1762: "The North and West Porticos adjoining to the tower of St Magnus’ Church at London Bridge, are taking [sic] down, in order to form a passage to and from that building, through the spacious arch upon which the steeple is built; the South Portico is also down, which fronts the Bridge and makes a very agreeable appearance". Thursday 30 June 1763: "On Saturday last, 25th [June 1763], the foot-passage under the arch of St Magnus’ steeple was opened; which, besides the convenience for foot-passengers, makes a very pretty appearance. A vestry, built of stone, is to be erected in the Church-yard, to front the new Toll-house, just erected at the corner of London Bridge."</ref> The Act<ref>Section 4 of the Act for enlarging and improving the North East Avenue of London Bridge, 1761 (c. 30, 2 George III)</ref> also provided that the land taken from the church for the widening was "to be considered ... as part of the cemetery of the said church ... but if the pavement thereof be broken up on account of the burying of any persons, the same shall be ... made good ... by the churchwardens".<ref>''Wates's Book of London Churchyards: A Guide to the Old Churchyards and Burial-grounds of the City and Central London'', Hackman, H., p. 88: London, 1981, {{ISBN|0-00-216313-6}}</ref>

By 1782 the noise level from the activities of [[Billingsgate Fish Market]] had become unbearable and the large windows on the north side of the church were blocked up leaving only circular windows high up in the wall.<ref>''St Magnus the Martyr'', Wittich, J.: London, 1994</ref> The parapet and pediment above the north aisle door were probably removed at the same time.<ref>Simon Bradley and Nikolaus Pevsner, ''London: The City Churches'': |page=2002</ref> At some point between the 1760s and 1814 the present [[clerestory]] was constructed with its oval windows and fluted and coffered plasterwork.<ref>''London 1: The City of London'', Pevsner, N. and Bradley, S., p. 232: London, 1997 {{ISBN|0-14-071092-2}}</ref> [[J. M. W. Turner]] painted the church in the mid-1790s.<ref>See [http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turner-london-bridge-with-the-monument-and-the-church-of-st-magnus-king-and-martyr-d00696 London Bridge, with the Monument and the Church of St Magnus]</ref>

The rector of St Magnus between 1792 and 1808, following the death of Robert Gibson on 28 July 1791,<ref>''The Times'', 2 August 1791</ref> was [[Thomas Rennell]] FRS. Rennell was President of [[Sion College]] in 1806/07. There is a monument to Thomas Leigh (Rector 1808–48 and President of [[Sion College]] 1829/30),<ref>''London Parishes; containing the situation, antiquity, and rebuilding of the Churches within the Bills of Mortality'': London, 1824 See [https://books.google.com/books?id=uRIHAAAAQAAJ&q=london+parishes+containing+an+account+of+the+Rise,+corruption+and+reformation+of+the+church+of+england London Parishes]</ref> at St Peter's Church, [[Goldhanger]] in Essex.<ref>See [http://www.essexchurches.info/church.asp?p=Goldhanger Monumental inscription]</ref> Richard Hazard (1761–1837) was connected with the church as sexton, parish clerk and ward beadle for nearly 50 years<ref>''The churches of London'', Vol, II, Godwin, G, and Britton, J.: London, 1838</ref> and served as Master of the Parish Clerks' Company in 1831/32.<ref>''The Parish Clerks of London'', Adams, R.H.: Phillimore, London and Chichester, 1971</ref>

In 1823 royal assent was given to ‘An Act for the Rebuilding of London Bridge’ and in 1825 John Garratt, Lord Mayor and Alderman of the Ward of Bridge Within, laid the first stone of the new [[London Bridge]].<ref>See ''The Times'', 15 June 1925, p. 15 for an article commemorating the centenary of this event.</ref> In 1831 [[John Rennie the Younger|Sir John Rennie]]’s's new [[London Bridge|bridge]] was opened further upstream and the old bridge demolished. St Magnus ceased to be the gateway to London as it had been for over 600 years. Peter de Colechurch<ref>Oxford DNB entry, Keene D.</ref> had been buried in the crypt of the chapel on the bridge and his bones were unceremoniously dumped in the River Thames.<ref>''Two thousand years of London Bridge'', Lennard, P., transcript of a lecture delivered at Gresham College on 10 November 2004 at [http://www.gresham.ac.uk/lectures-and-events/two-thousand-years-of-london-bridge Gresham College]</ref> In 1921 two stones from Old [[London Bridge]] were discovered across the road from the church. They now stand in the churchyard.

Wren's church of St Michael Crooked Lane was demolished, the final service on Sunday 20 March 1831 having to be abandoned due to the effects of the building work. The Rector of St Michael preached a sermon the following Sunday at St Magnus lamenting the demolition of his church with its monuments and "the disturbance of the worship of his parishioners on the preceding Sabbath".<ref>''The year book of daily recreation and information'', Hone, William: London, 1832</ref> The parish of St Michael Crooked Lane was united to that of St Magnus, which itself lost a burial ground in Church Yard Alley to the approach road for the new bridge.<ref>''Gentleman’sGentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle'', Volume 147 (January to June 1830), p. 15. See also ''History and Antiquities of the Parish of St Michael Crooked Lane'', Knight, W.: |page=1831</ref> However, in substitution it had restored to it the land taken for the widening of the old bridge in 1762 and was also given part of the approach lands to the east of the old bridge.<ref>''Wates's Book of London Churchyards: A Guide to the Old Churchyards and Burial-grounds of the City and Central London'', Hackman, H., p. 88: London, 1981, {{ISBN|0-00-216313-6}}</ref> In 1838 the Committee for the London Bridge Approaches reported to Common Council that new burial grounds had been provided for the parishes of St Michael, Crooked Lane and St Magnus, London Bridge.<ref>''Gentleman’sGentleman's Magazine'', Volume 165 (July to December 1838), p. 654</ref>

By the early 1960s traffic congestion had become a problem<ref>See [httphttps://hansardapi.millbanksystemsparliament.comuk/historic-hansard/commons/1963/may/08/traffic-congestion-new-fresh-wharf-area Hansard 1963] and [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/publications/Documents/Street-Scene-manual2.pdf City Street Scene Manual] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215103229/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/publications/Documents/Street-Scene-manual2.pdf |date=15 December 2013 }}</ref> and [[Thames Street (London)|Lower Thames Street]] was widened over the next decade<ref>The Upper Thames Street tunnel opened in 1970.</ref> to form part of a significant new east–west transport artery (the A3211).<ref>This involved the demolition of the Coal Exchange in 1962 and a number of warehouses; see [httphttps://hansardapi.millbanksystemsparliament.comuk/historic-hansard/commons/1962/mar/06/coal-exchange-london Hansard 1962] and [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/heritage-and-design/conservation-areas/Documents/eastcheap-ca-spd-informal-consultation-draft-august-2012.pdf City of London Supplementary Planning Document – Eastcheap Conservation Area (August 2012)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901101632/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/planning/heritage-and-design/conservation-areas/Documents/eastcheap-ca-spd-informal-consultation-draft-august-2012.pdf |date=1 September 2012 }}</ref> The setting of the church was further affected by the construction of a new [[London Bridge]] between 1967 and 1973.<ref>See [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/transport-and-streets/roads-highways-and-pavements/Pages/London-Bridge.aspx London Bridge]</ref> The New Fresh Wharf warehouse to the east of the church, built in 1939, was demolished in 1973-4 following the collapse of commercial traffic in the [[Pool of London]]<ref>See [http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.66/chapterId/1598/The-riverside-wharves.html New Fresh Wharf]</ref> and, after an archaeological excavation,<ref>See [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Quay-Magnus-House-London/dp/B0006EOLJQ Roman Quay At St Magnus House]. For the London Waterfront Tenements project see [http://www.colat.org.uk/LWTsummary.pdf London Waterfront Tenements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215110147/http://www.colat.org.uk/LWTsummary.pdf |date=15 December 2013 }}. For the pilot study investigating the creation of a digital archive of medieval property transactions along the City waterfront see [http://documents.mola.org.uk/projects/CITY/366/Dyson%20project_01.pdf Tony Dyson archive project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803123638/http://documents.mola.org.uk/projects/CITY/366/Dyson%20project_01.pdf |date=3 August 2012 }}</ref> St Magnus House was constructed on the site in 1978 to a design by [[Richard Seifert|R. Seifert & Partners]].<ref>''Aspects of Saxo-Norman London III: The Bridgehead and Billingsgate to 1200'', Steedman, K., Dyson T., Schofield, J., p. 21: London, 1992, {{ISBN|0-903290-40-5}}. See also ''London 1: The City of London'', Pevsner, N. and Bradley, S., p. 548: London, 1997 {{ISBN|0-14-071092-2}}.</ref> This development now allows a clear view of the church from the east side.<ref>See [http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Details.aspx?ID=149376&TypeID=1&searchtype=&contributor=0&licenses=1&sort=REL&cdonly=False&mronly=False View] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320152635/http://www.viewpictures.co.uk/Details.aspx?ID=149376&TypeID=1&searchtype=&contributor=0&licenses=1&sort=REL&cdonly=False&mronly=False |date=20 March 2012 }}</ref> The site to the south-east of The Monument (between Fish Street Hill and Pudding Lane), formerly predominantly occupied by fish merchants,<ref>See, for example, the photograph of St Magnus, The Monument and fish porters at Billingsgate in ''Wonderful London'', volume II, edited by Arthur St John Adcock, published by Amalgamated Press: London 1926/27</ref> was redeveloped as Centurion House and Gartmore (now Providian) House at the time of the closure of old Billingsgate Market in January 1982.<ref>''Bygone Billingsgate'', Manton, C. and Edwards, J.: Phillimore, Chichester, 1989 {{ISBN|0-85033-689-9}}. For the archaeological excavation see [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/laarc/catalogue/siteinfo.asp?id=1978&code=PDN81 PDN81] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814121438/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/laarc/catalogue/siteinfo.asp?id=1978&code=PDN81 |date=14 August 2012 }}</ref> A comprehensive redevelopment of Centurion House (renamed Monument Place) began in October 2011 and the building was let in 2014.<ref>See [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Data/Planning%20and%20Transportation%20Committee/20110906/Agenda/$06%203%20-%20Centurion%20House%2024%20Monument%20Street%20London%20EC3R%208AJ.doc.pdf Planning and Transportation Committee], [http://www.rockspringpim.com/news-and-research/press-releases/2011/sept11-centurion-planning.aspx Centurion House], [https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/buildings/contracts/mace-bags-15m-centurion-house-03-01-2012/ Mace] and [https://www.rockspringpim.com/news-and-research/press-releases/2014/10092014-monument-place-lettings-ei-cahill/#.WLyIB4XXKM8 Monument Place]</ref> Regis House, to the south-west of The Monument, was redeveloped by Land Securities PLC in 1998.<ref>The present Regis House replaced the original building of that name (of 1931) and Ridgway House (built in 1913 for Ridgways Teas) in King William Street, together with properties in Fish Street Hill, including the Canterbury Arms pub (a link with the pilgrimage to the shrine of St Thomas Becket). The pub is recalled in the novel 'The Hidden War' by David Fiddimore (Pp 136–7, and 490, as "a drinking haunt of the Customs Officers who worked the Pool of London". London, 2009 {{ISBN|978-0-330-45448-3}}) For the archaeological excavations see Brigham, T., Watson, B., Tyers, I. with Bartkowiak, R. 1996 'Current Archaeological work at Regis House in the City of London part 1' London Archaeologist 8 (2), 31–8 [http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-457-1/dissemination/pdf/vol08/vol08_02/08_02_031_038.pdf Part 1]; Brigham T., Watson B. and Bartkowiak R., 1996, 'Current archaeological work at Regis House in the City of London, part 2', London Archaeologist 8(3): 63–68 [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-457-1/dissemination/pdf/vol08/vol08_03/08_03_063_069.pdf Part 2]; Trevor Brigham, Tony Dyson and Bruce Watson, 'Saxo-Norman, medieval and post-medieval development at Regis House, London EC4', Trans London and Middlesex Archaeol Soc 61 (2010), 89–129 [http://www.colat.org.uk/Trans%20LondonMddx-Regis%20House.pdf COLAT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215110449/http://www.colat.org.uk/Trans%20LondonMddx-Regis%20House.pdf |date=15 December 2013 }}. See also [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/laarc/catalogue/siteinfo.asp?id=2688&code=KWS94 Site record] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814121850/http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/laarc/catalogue/siteinfo.asp?id=2688&code=KWS94 |date=14 August 2012 }}, [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/learning/features_facts/digging/crafts/s1.html Discovering trade and transport at Regis House] and [http://www.archaeology.co.uk/specials/the-timeline-of-britain/the-story-of-roman-london.htm Current Archaeology]. One of the finds was a maiolica altar flower jug decorated with the instruments of the Passion, which is now on display in the Museum of London. [http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/London-Wall/Whats-on/Galleries/medieval/objects/record.htm?type=object&id=731880 Jug]</ref>

The vista from The [[Monument to the Great Fire of London|Monument]] south to the [[River Thames]], over the roof of St Magnus, is protected under the City of London Unitary Development Plan,<ref>See [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65CCEAEE-662D-493E-89FC-576533BA926C/0/st_pauls_monument_views.pdf City of London] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402185453/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/65CCEAEE-662D-493E-89FC-576533BA926C/0/st_pauls_monument_views.pdf |date=2 April 2012 }}</ref> although the South bank of the river is now dominated by [[Shard London Bridge|The Shard]]. Since 2004 the City of London Corporation has been exploring ways of enhancing the Riverside Walk to the south of St Magnus.<ref>See [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/strategies/Pages/riverside-walk-enhancement-strategy.aspx Riverside Walk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831045236/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/strategies/Pages/riverside-walk-enhancement-strategy.aspx |date=31 August 2012 }}</ref> Work on a new staircase to connect London Bridge to the Riverside Walk is due to commence in March 2013.<ref>See [https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s13749/Riverside%20Walk%20Enhancement%20Strategy.pdf Riverside Walk at London Bridge]</ref> The story of St Magnus's relationship with London Bridge and an interview with the rector featured in the television programme ''The Bridges That Built London with Dan Cruickshank'', first broadcast on [[BBC Four]] on 14 June 2012.<ref>See [https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01jv5nr/The_Bridges_That_Built_London_with_Dan_Cruickshank The Bridges That Built London with Dan Cruickshank]</ref> The City Corporation's 'Fenchurch and Monument Area Enhancement Strategy' of August 2012 recommended ways of reconnecting St Magnus and the riverside to the area north of Lower Thames Street.<ref>"The southern section of Fish Street Hill leads directly from the Monument to the pedestrian crossing opposite St Magnus the Martyr Church and further enhancement of the street with Yorkstone paving used throughout, architectural lighting and improved signage would be of benefit to emphasis this route to the riverside from Monument Station. Lower Thames Street itself forms part of the Transport for London Road Network. Its corridor creates significant severance between the Fenchurch Street area and the City’sCity's riverside. While level differences and utility infrastructure are major constraints, additional improvements to the street including enhanced pedestrian crossings and street trees would be of major benefit to reduce the severance caused and encourage greater access to the riverside." See [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/public-consultation/Documents/Fenchurch%20and%20Monument%20Area%20Enhance%20Strategy%20Part%202%20(iv).pdf Area Enhancement Strategy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031102835/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/environment-and-planning/environmental-enhancement/public-consultation/Documents/Fenchurch%20and%20Monument%20Area%20Enhance%20Strategy%20Part%202%20(iv).pdf |date=31 October 2012 }}</ref>

A lectureship at [[St Michael, Crooked Lane]], which was transferred to St Magnus in 1831, was endowed by the wills of Thomas and Susannah Townsend in 1789 and 1812 respectively.<ref>''Memorials of the Guild of Merchant Taylors: Of the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist in the City of London'', Clode, C.M. (ed.): |page=1875</ref> The Revd Henry Robert Huckin, Headmaster of [[Repton School]] from 1874 to 1882, was appointed Townsend Lecturer at St Magnus in 1871.<ref>''Crockford's Clerical Directory'', 1874</ref>

During the second half of the 19th century the rectors were Alexander McCaul (1799–1863, Rector 1850–63), who coined the term "Judaeo Christian" in a letter dated 17 October 1821,<ref>''Extract of a Letter From Mr. M'Caul'' in ''The Jewish Expositor, and Friend of Israel'' (Volume V, page 478) [https://books.google.com/books?id=dSYbAAAAYAAJ&dq=Extract+of+a+Letter+From+Mr.+M%27Caul+October+1821&pg=RA1-PA476 The Jewish Expositor] "... there is but one way to bring about the object of the Society, that is by erecting a Judaeo Christian community, a city of refuge, where all who wish to be baptized could be supplied with the means of earning their bread."</ref> and his son Alexander Israel McCaul (1835–1899, curate 1859–63, rector 1863–99). Another son, Joseph Benjamin McCaul (1827–92) served as curate from 1851 to 1854. The Revd [[Alexander McCaul]] Sr<ref>A scholarship bearing McCaul's name is still awarded by KingsKing's College, London [http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/trs/study/funding/mccaul.aspx McCaul Scholarship]</ref> was a Christian missionary to the Polish Jews, who (having declined an offer to become the first Anglican bishop in Jerusalem)<ref>'The Letters and Diaries of John Henry Newman: Volume VIII: Tract 90 and the Jerusalem Bishopric', Gerard Tracey (ed.), p.291: Oxford, 1999, {{ISBN|978-0199204038}}. See [https://books.google.com/books?id=BEDC_E550mYC&dq=professor+Alexander+McCaul+kings+college&pg=PA291 Newman Letters and Diaries]</ref> was appointed professor of Hebrew and rabbinical literature at [[King's College, London]] in 1841. His daughter, [[Elizabeth Anne Finn|Elizabeth Finn]] (1825–1921), a noted linguist, was the wife of James Finn, the British Consul in Jerusalem from 1846 to 1863. She founded a number of organizations including the Jerusalem Literary Society, which was the forerunner to the Palestine Exploration Fund, the Society for the Relief of Persecuted Jews (Syrian Colonization Fund) and the Distressed Gentlefolk Aid Association (now known as [[Elizabeth Finn Care]]).<ref>''Elizabeth Finn Care: Our History'' at [http://www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/Our_History Elizabeth Finn Care] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505184709/http://www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/Our_History |date=5 May 2011 }}</ref> Both McCaul and his daughter worked closely with Lord Shaftesbury.<ref>See for example a letter to The Times, 27 April 1939; p. 12; Issue 48290 from Constance Finn referring to correspondence from Lord Shaftesbury to McCaul in 1841 regarding Lord Palmerston's instructions to the Consulate at Jerusalem to give protection to any Jews there who might require it.</ref>

In 1890 it was reported that the Bishop of London was to hold an inquiry as to the desirability of uniting the benefices of [[St George Botolph Lane]] and St Magnus. The expectation was a fusion of the two livings, the demolition of St George’sGeorge's and the pensioning of "William Gladstone’sGladstone's favourite Canon", [[Malcolm MacColl]]. Although services ceased there, St George’sGeorge's was not demolished until 1904. The parish was then merged with St Mary at Hill rather than St Magnus.<ref>''The Quebec Saturday Budget'', 2 August 1890</ref>

In November 1898 a memorial service was held at St Magnus for [[Knill Baronets|Sir Stuart Knill]] (1824–1898), head of the firm of John Knill and Co, wharfingers, and formerly Lord Mayor and Master of the Plumbers' Company.<ref>See "Election of an Alderman" in ''The Times'', 19 September 1885, p. 5 and "The Late Sir Suart Knill" in ''The Times'', 23 November 1898, p. 12</ref> This was the first such service for a Roman Catholic taken in an Anglican church.<ref>''The New Zealand Tablet'', Volume XXVI, Issue 4, 26 January 1899, p. 24.</ref> Sir Stuart's son, [[Knill Baronets|Sir John Knill]] (1856–1934), also served as Alderman for the [[Bridge (City of London ward)|Ward of Bridge Within]], Lord Mayor and Master of the Plumbers' Company.

A report in 1920 from a committee chaired by [[Walter Phillimore, 1st Baron Phillimore|Lord Phillimore]] proposed the demolition of nineteen City churches, including St Magnus.<ref>''City of London Churches Commission'', Lord Phillimore: London 1919–20</ref> A general outcry from members of the public and parishioners alike prevented the execution of this plan.<ref>See 'Coverdale's Church: Appeal to the Bishop of London' in ''The Times'', 15 September 1920, p. 13 and 'The Threat to the City Churches: Today's Debate' in ''The Times'', 25 November 1926, p. 18</ref> The members of the [[City Livery Club]] passed a resolution that they regarded "with horror and indignation the proposed demolition of 19 City churches" and pledged the club to do everything in its power to prevent such a catastrophe.<ref>''The Times'', 15 June 1920, p. 13</ref> T. S. Eliot wrote that the threatened churches gave "to the business quarter of London a beauty which its hideous banks and commercial houses have not quite defaced. ... the least precious redeems some vulgar street ... The loss of these towers, to meet the eye down a grimy lane, and of these empty naves, to receive the solitary visitor at noon from the dust and tumult of Lombard Street, will be irreparable and unforgotten."<ref>Quoted in ''Anglo-Catholic in Religion – T.S. Eliot and Christianity'', Spurr B., p. 36: Cambridge, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-7188-3073-1}}. This was a theme to which Eliot was to return, as in the choruses to ''The Rock'' of 1934.</ref> The London County Council published a report concluding that St Magnus was "one of the most beautiful of all Wren's works" and "certainly one of the churches which should not be demolished without specially good reasons and after very full consideration."<ref>''Proposed demolition of nineteen city churches. Report by the clerk of the council and the architect of the council'', London County Council: London, 1920</ref> Due to the uncertainty about the church's future, the patron decided to defer action to fill the vacancy in the benefice and a curate-in-charge temporarily took responsibility for the parish.<ref>''The Times'', 13 August 1920, p. 5</ref> However, on 23 April 1921 it was announced that the Revd [[Henry Joy Fynes-Clinton]] would be the new rector. ''The Times'' concluded that the appointment, with the bishop’sbishop's approval, meant that the proposed demolition would not be carried out.<ref>''The Times'', 23 April 1921, p. 12</ref> Fr Fynes-Clinton was inducted on 31 May 1921.<ref>''The Times'', 28 May 1921, p. 13</ref>

The interior of the church was restored by [[Martin Travers]] in 1924, in a [[Baroque Revival architecture|neo-baroque]] style,<ref>''The Visitors Guide to the City of London Churches'' Tucker, T.: London, Friends of the City Churches, 2006 {{ISBN|0-9553945-0-3}}. See also a photograph of men at work on the pulpit in ''The Times'', 24 November 1924, p. 16; an account of the alterations and reopening service, with photograph, at which the Bishop of London preached, in ''The Times'', 16 December 1924, pp. 18–19 and a description of the restoration of the organ in ''The Times'', 18 February 1925, p. 12.</ref> reflecting the Anglo-Catholic character of the congregation<ref>See the last verse of John Betjeman's poem ''Anglo-Catholic Congresses'' in ''John Betjeman’sBetjeman's Collected Poems'': John Murray, London, 1958</ref> following the appointment of [[Henry Joy Fynes-Clinton]] as rector.<ref>''Crockford's Clerical Directory'', 1932. Fynes-Clinton was born on 6 May 1875 (birth registered in the first quarter of 1876) and died on 4 December 1959. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he read ''Literae Humaniores''.</ref> Fynes-Clinton served as rector of St Magnus from 31 May 1921 until his death on 4 December 1959 and substantially beautified the interior of the church.<ref>For obituary see ''Walsingham'', Cobb, P. (ed), pp 97–98: 1990, ''The Times'', 7 December 1959, p. 19 and ''The Times'', 12 February 1960, p. 14</ref>

At the midday service on 1 March 1922, [[Ash Wednesday]], J.&nbsp;A. Kensit, leader of the [[Protestant Truth Society]], got up and protested against the form of worship.<ref>''The Times'', 2 March 1922, p. 9</ref> The proposed changes to the church in 1924 led to a hearing in the Consistory Court of the Chancellor of the Diocese of London and an appeal to the [[Arches Court|Court of Arches]].<ref>''The Times'', 31 March 1924 p. 7 and 14 April 1924 p. 14, and ''Images in Churches: Judgement of Sir Lewis Dibdin, Dean of the Arches, in the case of Rector and Churchwardens of St Magnus the Martyr v. All having interest'', Publications Board of the Church Assembly and SPCK: London, 1925.</ref> Judgement was given by the latter Court in October 1924.<ref>Details of the changes made by Fr Fynes-Clinton can be found in John Salter’sSalter's ''The Anglican Papalist: A personal Portrait of Henry Joy Fynes-Clinton''</ref> The [[advowson]] was purchased in 1931, without the knowledge of the Rector and Parochial Church Council, by the evangelical Sir [[Charles King-Harman]].<ref>See obituary in ''The Times'', 19 April 1939, p. 16</ref> A number of such cases, including the purchase of the advowsons of Clapham and Hampstead Parish Churches by Sir Charles, led to the passage of the Benefices (Purchase of Rights of Patronage) Measure 1933.<ref>''Hansard'' HL Deb 22 March 1933 vol 87 cc2-27. See [httphttps://hansardapi.millbanksystemsparliament.comuk/historic-hansard/lords/1933/mar/22/benefices-purchase-of-rights-of 1933 Measure]</ref> This allowed the parishioners of St Magnus to purchase the advowson from Sir Charles King-Harman for £1,300 in 1934 and transfer it to the Patronage Board.<ref>Printed letter from the Rector and Churchwardens to the members of the Sunday and Weekday congregations of the Church of St Magnus the Martyr, February 1934. The advowson was transferred to the Diocesan Board of Patronage by a deed of conveyance dated 17 September 1934 and registered at the Diocesan Registry on 10 October 1934.</ref>

A bomb which fell on London Bridge in 1940 during [[the Blitz]] of [[World War II]] blew out all the windows and damaged the plasterwork and the roof of the north aisle.<ref>''Wren Glories, Treasures of the Cultural World Before and After The Fire Attack on the City of London'', The Illustrated London News, 18 January 1941</ref> However, the church was designated a Grade I [[listed building]] on 4 January 1950<ref>{{NHLE |num=1064601 |access-date=23 January 2009}}</ref> and repaired in 1951, being re-opened for worship in June of that year by the [[Bishop of London]], [[William Wand]].<ref>''The story of the church of St Magnus the Martyr, City of London'': The Church Publishers, Ramsgate, no date (early 1970s)</ref> The architect was Laurence King.<ref>See obituary in ''The Times'', 14 December 1981, p. 10</ref> "At St Magnus the Martyr almost the whole of the plaster work had to be reproduced. Fortunately, as in some other cases, the furniture had been safely stored, but against £16,000 only £9,000 was recoverable."<ref>Article by Judith G. Scott, Secretary of the Central Council for the Care of Churches, in ''The Times'', 20 May 1958, p.11</ref> Restoration and redecoration work has subsequently been carried out several times, including after a fire in the early hours of 4 November 1995.<ref>''London Archaeologist'', Volume 7–16, 1996</ref> Cleaning of the exterior stonework was completed in 2010.

William Petter was Director of Music from 2011 until his death in 2016,<ref>See [http://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/william-petter-tribute Tribute to William Petter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220115419/http://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/william-petter-tribute |date=20 December 2016 }}</ref> having been a founder member of the Choir of St Magnus the Martyr in 2005.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/our-debut-cd| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141223012655/http://stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/our-debut-cd| archive-date = 2014-12-23| title = Our Debut CD {{!}} St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge}} </ref> HeHis predecessor was succeededThomas byKennedy, Lottieand Bagnallsuccessor andwas thenLottie byBagnall. William Johnston Davies took over in 2020, before the current Director, Edward Walters, commenced in September 2023. The choir issued CDs in 2013 (''Regina Coeli'') and 2014 (''Inexplicable Splendour''). St Magnus's organist, John Eady, has won composition competitions for new choral works at St Paul's Cathedral (a setting of ''Veni Sancte Spiritus'' first performed on 27 May 2012) and at Lincoln Cathedral (a setting of the Matin responsory for Advent first performed on 30 November 2013).<ref>See [http://www.stpauls.co.uk/News-Press/Latest-News/London-musician-triumphs-in-choral-composition-competition Choral composition competition] and [http://lincolncathedral.com/2013/10/winners-advent-composition-competition-song-advent-announced/ Advent Composition Competition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191016/http://lincolncathedral.com/2013/10/winners-advent-composition-competition-song-advent-announced/ |date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> Joseph Atkins<ref>See [http://www.josephatkins.co.uk/composer.php Joseph Atkins]</ref> composed three pieces for the church: ''Missa Sancti Magni'', ''Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis'' and ''The Blessing of the Bells'', a litany and antiphon for the consecration of the new bells in 2009. David Pearson composed two pieces, the Communion anthem ''A Mhànais mo rùin'' (O Magnus of my love) and a hymn to St Magnus, ''Nobilis, humilis'', for performance at the church on the feast of St Magnus the Martyr on 16 April 2012.<ref>Two-page leaflet on the music performed at St Magnus the Martyr on 16 April 2012</ref>

In addition to liturgical music of a high standard, St Magnus ishas been the venue for a wide range of musical events. The Clemens non Papa Consort, founded in 2005, performshas performed in collaboration with the production team Concert Bites as the church'sa resident ensemble.<ref>See [http://www.clemensnonpapaconsort.com Clemens non Papa Consort]</ref> The band ''Mishaped Pearls'' performed at the church on 17 December 2011.<ref>See [http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.341536569194264.96801.164140396933883&type=3 Mishaped Pearls & Josephine Lloyd and Band Concert]</ref> St Magnus featured in the television programme ''Jools Holland: London Calling'', first broadcast on BBC2 on 9 June 2012.<ref>See [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01jxzfq Jools Holland: London Calling]</ref> The Platinum Consort made a promotional film at St Magnus for the release of their debut album ''In the Dark'' on 2 July 2012.<ref>See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmkCYEH7-Kc Platinum Consort]</ref>

[[Martin Travers]] restored the 17th century high altar reredos, including the paintings of [[Moses]] and [[Aaron]] and the [[Ten Commandments]], and reconstructed the upper storey.<ref>Although these paintings cannot be seen on pre-1924 photographs, they are mentioned in T Francis Bumpus’sBumpus's ''Ancient London Churches'' (1910, reissued 1923) and in an article by Philip Norman on ''The Church of St Magnus the Martyr'' in the Transactions of the St. Paul's Ecclesiological Society (1915). It appears that they had faded and the combination of strong, even lighting and longish exposure time, not to mention the quality of contemporary negatives/plates and printing technology, contributed to the loss of detail in the photographs.</ref> Above the reredos Travers added a painted and gilded rood.<ref>''London 1: The City of London'', Pevsner, N. and Bradley, S., p. 232: London, 1997 {{ISBN|0-14-071092-2}}</ref> In the centre of the reredos there is a carved gilded [[pelican]] (an early Christian symbol of self-sacrifice) and a [[Baroque]]-style roundel with a nimbus and dove descending, attended by cherubim.<ref>Typical of "the late stuart chancel [which] expressed a complex, sacramentally high-church, socially royalist theology, rooted in the Anglican rites, Holy Scripture, and Anglican doctrine" ''The Moral Shecinah: The Social Theology of Chancel Decoration in Seventeenth Century London'' David H. Chaundy-Smart in ''Anglican and Episcopal History'' Vol. 69 No. 2</ref> The glazed east window, which can be seen in early photographs of the church, appears to have been filled in at this time. A new altar with console tables was installed and the communion rails moved outwards to extend the size of the sanctuary. Two old door frames were used to construct side chapels and placed at an angle across the north-east and south-east corners of the church. One, the Lady Chapel, was dedicated to the Rector's parents in 1925 and the other was dedicated to Christ the King. Originally, a baroque aumbry was used for reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, but later a tabernacle was installed on the Lady Chapel altar and the aumbry was used to house a relic of the True Cross.

On the north wall there is a [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] [[icon]], painted in 1908. The modern stations of the cross in honey-coloured Japanese oak are the work of Robert Randall and Ashley Sands.<ref>See [http://www.churchart.co.uk/findanartist/viewArtist.php?artistID=204&searchMode=craftID=26 Sands and Randall] and [http://trushare.com/95APR03/AP03ARTY.htm Stations of the Cross – Two Views]</ref> One of the windows in the north wall dates from 1671 and came from Plumbers' Hall in Chequer Yard, Bush Lane, which was demolished in 1863 to make way for [[Cannon Street station|Cannon Street Railwayrailway Stationstation]].<ref>See [https://www.flickr.com/photos/32445100@N03/3975781762/ Window of 1671 from Plumbers' Hall]. The site of the old Plumbers' Hall is now commemorated by a plaque and statue in Cannon Street Station [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/news_2011/hrh_plumberappr.htm Plumber’s Apprentice] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129084421/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/media_centre/news_2011/hrh_plumberappr.htm |date=29 January 2012 }}.</ref> A fireplace from the Hall was re-erected in the Vestry House. The other windows on the north side are by Alfred L. Wilkinson (1899-19831899–1983)<ref>The son of Horace Wilkinson, also an artist working in stained glass, Alfred Wilkinson trained at St Martin's School of Art in London before working with his father from 1920 until 1939 in London. He was subsequently based at several addresses in London, Hertfordshire and Essex, and also designed for G. King & Son of Norwich. Horace Wilkinson (1866-19571866–1957) was frequently employed by the architect W.D. Caroe, a Past Master of the Plumbers' Company.</ref> and date from 1952 to 1960. These show the arms of the Plumbers’, Fishmongers’ and Coopers’ Companies together with those of William Wand when Bishop of London and Geoffrey Fisher when Archbishop of Canterbury and (as noted above) the badge of the Fraternity of Our Lady de Salve Regina.

The 10 bells were removed for safe keeping in 1940 and stored in the churchyard. They were taken to Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1951 whereupon it was discovered that four of them were cracked. After a long period of indecision, fuelled by lack of funds and interest, the bells were finally sold for scrap in 1976. The metal was used to cast many of the Bells of Congress that were then hung in the [[Old Post Office Pavilion|Old Post Office Tower]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]

[https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/Notes_and_Queries/GZ1yuvxSHeoC?hlid=en&gbpv=1GZ1yuvxSHeoC&dq=coopers+company+cloker+service+st+magnus+the+martyr&pg=PA72&printsec=frontcover Notes and Queries]</ref> Cloker left property in the parish of St Michael Crooked Lane to the Company in trust for the benefit of what is now the [[Coopers' Company and Coborn School]].

St Magnus is also the ward church for the [[Bridge (City of London ward)|Ward of Bridge and Bridge Without]], which elects one of the city's [[aldermen]]. Between 1550 and 1978 there were separate aldermen for Bridge Within and Bridge Without, the former ward being north of the river and the latter representing the City's area of control in [[Southwark]]. The Bridge Ward Club was founded in 1930 to "promote social activities and discussion of topics of local and general interest and also to exchange ward and parochial information" and holds its annual carol service at St Magnus.<ref>''Bridge Ward Club'', club handbook (no date, c. 1990)</ref>