The church of St Mary-le-Strand will be all-a-shimmer this winter as a major art installation takes over its southern facade.
Walk along Strand from 19 November, and you might see a light show to compete with the festive decorations of nearby Somerset House.
The church of St Mary-le-Strand is celebrating its 300th anniversary with a huge new artwork. We're told that a "site-specific installation will envelop the Baroque landmark in a shimmering, curtain-like image, reimagining its architecture through light and illusion".
Called 'Decades', the artwork was designed by David Chipperfield Architects and artist Louise Giovanelli at the behest of Create London.
Until recently, St Mary-le-Strand was easily overlooked. The poor church lived up to its name, stranded on a traffic island near King's College. Since the pedestrianisation of this part of Strand, however, it's become a much more accessible part of the streetscape. This artwork will draw further attention to what is described as "the first English Baroque church in the UK" (St Paul's Cathedral might want a word).
It's hard to get a sense of what to expect from the press release. We're promised a projection of curtain-like forms, "creating a striking contrast of materialities between soft drapery and hard stonework". The art will also draw attention to the pollution stains still present on the church from its many years on a traffic island.
Decades invites passers-by to "reflect on heritage, perception and the evolving cultural life of London’s Strand Aldwych"— perhaps while listening to the monumentally crushing Joy Division song of the same name... though that's our tip, not theirs.
'Decades' will be freely visible on St Mary-le-Strand church, opposite King's College, from 19 November 2025 to 18 January 2026.
