St Margaret's, Westminster
The Church of St Margaret is one of the oldest church in England, located in the Westminster Abbey in London.
History
The church was built by King Edward the Confessor in the 11th century to accomodate the growing populace of England. Since 1614, masses have been conducted for the House of Commons and the Speaker, with sermons given by the latter's chaplain. In 1643 during the English Civil War, the politician Edmund Waller was arrested during a church semon by John Pym for his plot to return King Charles to London, considered a betrayal to the Long Parliament.[1]
For the next few centuries, the yard of the church became a popular burial site, such that by the 19th century, doctors reported that the foul air from the burials would affect the proceedings in Parliament. As a result, a new burial yard was built and the churchyard was emptied of its burials.[1]