St Martin-in-the-Fields

Saturday, 21st September.

St Martin-in-the-Fields is an Anglican church at the north-east corner of Trafalgar Square, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours. There has been a church on the site since the medieval period.

I sat on the steps Of St Martin-in-the-Fields and ate a traditional Cornish pasty from the Cornish Pasty Shop at Charing Cross station, served to me by an Indian gentleman. 

St Martin-in-the-Fields whipping post, 1752.
"From 1572, whipping at the post was a routine form of corporal punishment, usually on market days, to give maximum deterrent effect and enhance humiliation.  The practice was revoked for women in 1791 and for men in 1837."

When I went into the church, there was a small group rehearsing for a "Mini Maestros' '' concert to be held later in the day.  Here was my chance to go to a St Martin-in-the-Fields concert, so I bought a ticket.

 The pieces played were one of the movements from Handel's Water Music, and Mozart's Symphony #40.  The conductor introduced all the instruments, explained the music and invited the audience to sing or clap along with selected bits.  There were three junior violinists and one little horn player who joined in with about a minute's worth of the Mozart piece which they had been practising.  Great fun - I really enjoyed it.