St Stephen Walbrook, the historic church located in the City of London, has reopened to the public after undergoing extensive renovations. The church, completed in 1687, was built to replace the previous building that had been consumed in the Great Fire of London. St Stephen Walbrook shut its doors in 2024 to undergo extensive repairs. Following years of effort and advocacy, it reopened to visitors on July 3, 2025.
Visitors can now explore how the recent renovations made important structural repairs to the church and its tower, while updating the church’s interior for 21st century use. An announcement made on May 17, 2024, detailed the need for these repairs and outlined plans for redecoration and improvements to the crypt facilities. While the reopening was anticipated a year prior, it underwent a three-month extension before finally reopening their doors to the public once more.
St Stephen Walbrook has a unique place in royal history. It’s most famous for hosting Lady Sarah Chatto’s wedding to Daniel Chatto in 1994. This made it the first royal wedding at this church, which was not originally meant to serve as something like that. Lady Sarah Chatto was exquisitely dressed in a Jasper Conran dress, we thought. The gown had a Queen Anne neckline, long sleeves, a fitted bodice and full, princess-style skirt. Her look was completed with the Snowdon Floral Tiara specially made for her wedding day.
The ceremony was small in scope too, just 30 minutes long and attended by around 200 guests. The ostentatious royal weddings in places like Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral, Lady Sarah chose St Stephen Walbrook. This decision is a reflection of her preference for a quieter and more personal affair.
“Unlike the grand Westminster Abbey or St. Paul’s Cathedral spectacles of other royal weddings (like those of her cousins Prince Charles or Prince Andrew), Lady Sarah chose a much more intimate and understated affair.” – Andrea Caamano, HELLO!’s Digital Content Director
Aside from its musical overtones, historical importance including a school of architecture, St Stephen Walbrook buildings will soon be home to musical elements again. Our Friday organ recitals will resume starting August 1, 2025. In the meantime, Tuesday recitals and Thursday Eucharist services have resumed, effective July 3. And with all these events combined, there’s no doubt they will enrich the cultural tapestry of the City of London. They’re programming to bring visitors back returning this legendary stage.
