Church Watcher volunteering

St Mary at Hill Church

There is something quite magical about being in a building when it isn’t being used for its purpose. It’s like you have a chance to soak it in, listen closer, see if the walls whisper, think about the people who may have walked in the aisles before you. That is exactly the feeling I get when I walk into one of the City churches to volunteer.



In April 2012, I joined Friends of the City Churches and became a Church Watcher volunteer. FCC was started in 1994 and it oversees 16 churches in the City of London, commonly referred to as the square mile. An organisation of over 100 volunteers, they allow the churches to be open to the public by providing 2 volunteers to a church once a week.

St. Benet Paul's Wharf

The job is straightforward, but the rewards are endless. Every quarter, there is a Church Watchers meeting where a you find a scrum of volunteers, many in their 60‘s and 70‘s, elbowing each other to sign up for churches they want to watch on days they are available. There is no regular commitment required, but you often find it is hard to get certain churches if you arrive late to the meeting.

As a Church Watcher, I meet my watching buddy just before 11am at the entrance to the church. We either have keys, or we obtain them from a key guardian. Unlocking the church, we head inside and first try to find the lights. This is always a scavenger hunt, as the churches were here long before the lighting; the switches are often in random locations. Most all churches have a kitchen that we are welcome to use, so the kettle goes on and the watching begins. We are asked to keep count of who comes in to view the
church and report the numbers at the end of the day via email.

The bombed out church St Dunstans in the East

The time in the church is spent in a variety of ways. While some volunteers bring books or projects to work on, this is often overruled for interesting conversation and gazing around the church. Many a volunteer has stumbled upon a memorial or artifact in the church that will often inspire more research. When visitors come in, you can’t help but step into “tour guide” mode and offer information about the church, the builder, the bomb damage, or other unusual fact not know in general.

St Botolph Aldersgate Church

Church watching is entertaining. Often, there are scheduled masses or lunchtime concerts with local talent providing top quality performances free to the public. It is a shame when they are not playing to a full room. Recently, FCC joined Twitter to help publicise these free recitals. You can follow them @ChurchWatchers to see what events are coming up, or pick up a free issue of City Events --the FCC newsletter available at all churches. Audience members are welcomed to bring a lunch and eat in the church.

When 3pm rolls around, it’s time to wash up the tea mugs and pack up the unread books, switch off all the lights, and lock up the church for the night.




Church Opening Schedule
opening times 11am -3pm unless otherwise indicated

Mondays       
- St. Martin Ludgate
- St. Mary Abchurch

Tuesdays       
- The Dutch Church (2nd/4th Tuesdays)
- St. Botolph Aldersgate (1:45-4p)
- St. Dunstan in the West
- St. Mary Abchurch

Wednesdays       
- All Hallows London Wall
- St. Magnus the Martyr (12-4p)
- St. Sepulchre without Newgate
- St. Stephen Walbrook

Thursdays
- St. Benet Paul’s Wharf
- St. James Garlickhythe
- St. Mary Abchurch
- St. Mary At Hill

Fridays       
- St. Andrew by the Wardrobe
- St. Botolph Aldgate   
- St. Ethelburga Centre
- St. Mary Abchurch

Note: St. Mary Abchurch is the FCC HQ and is open daily


Written by Amber Raney-Kincade is "The American Tour Guide In London", providing bespoke walking tours and private guiding services in London. She has lived here for 13 years.




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