Лондон қаласындағы тарихи шіркеулер мен әскери ескерткіштер

the abolished ancient and civil parishes

The original (probably pre Norman) church on the site was dedicated to St Edmund the King and Martyr. This name became contracted, and in the 21st century reference to the saint king has been overwhelmingly dropped. The very early lessening of the first dedication helped to reserve that name for the small church to the east of St Paul's Cathedral dedicated
to St Edmund, King and Martyr. The church is today the largest parish church in the city. but was gutted by the Great Fire of London in 1666, which left the outer walls, the tower and the porch standing. It was rebuilt 1667–1679 by Joshua Marshall, the King's Master Mason, and appears to be remodelled to Marshall's own design. Lightly modified in the 18th century, installed in 1834 with plasterwork of three years later. In 1605, London merchant tailor John Dowe paid the parish £50 (50.0 in 1605 is equivalent to about <calculated amount> in recent years) to buy a handbell and to mark the execution of prisoners at the nearby gallows at Newgate. This execution bell is displayed in a glass case in the nave. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the clerk was responsible for ringing it outside the condemned man's cell in Newgate Prison the night before his execution, and announcing the following "wholesome advice":

By the north aisle is the Musicians' Chapel. As St Stephen's chapel it hosted votive masses to the 12th century monastic saint Stephen Harding prior to the English Reformation and during the reign of Mary I of England. The chapel's appearance and the Musicians' Book of Remembrance are maintained by the Friends of the Musicians' Chapel. A Service of Thanksgiving for all those in the book is held at the church each year as well as a requiem close to All Souls' Day. Many concerts and memorial events for musicians have been held in the church. In 2017 the vicar ceased parish funds financing the requiem and allowing of most free rehearsing time. A protest was held and many prominent musicians including John Rutter sought continued benevolence from the wider congregation and church patron. Attempts to mediate failed.

The south aisle of the church holds the regimental chapel of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (merged to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers), to whom its gardens are a memorial. The west end of the north aisle has memorials for the City of London Rifles (the 6th Battalion London Regiment).

The church has been designated a Grade I listed building (the highest grade) since 1950.

The north aisle is dominated by a splendid organ built by Renatus Harris in 1670; the organ case is its sole mention in the architectural listing, adding a date, 1677. It is not currently playable, though efforts are being made to restore it to a playable condition. A Makin digital organ is used when required for services. The choir has now composed of eight professional singers.