Saint Mary-le-Strand

Because of its constricting island site, St. Mary's is a narrow, aisleless church, lit only from the upper story. Among the churches of the time it is the nearest to contemporary Italian styles in its two-story interior and exterior, in its treatment of the chancel and in its detail over the apse window. When Gibbs designed the church, he first omitted the steeple, planning to erect a tower 280-feet high to include a statue of Queen Anne. This plan was abandoned with the death of the queen and instead the elevations were graced with an elegant three-part steeple which now seems an essential part of the composition.