St Martin's Church (also known as "St Martin Within Ludgate") originally dates back to the 12th century and was once part of the Roman/Medieval city gate's "Ludgate," which were part of the city walls. The church perished in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was one of many rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt most of the city churches and, most famously, St Paul's Cathedral. The church has some of the most original works from the 17th century.

The church is dedicated to St Martin of Tours. Artwork in the church depicts him on his horse (once a soldier) cutting his cloak in half to give to a beggar. He left the army to become a monk and became Bishop of Tours. He died in 397. There are also paintings of St Mary Magdalene and St Gregory.

Alter with cross and black and white tiled floor.

The Pulpit dates from 1680 (restored in 2008). The original organ by well-known Bernard Schmidt was replaced in 1848 by Theodore Bates. The brass chandelier dates from 1777 and came from the Cathedral of St Vincent in the West Indies, and it's a mystery how it came to the church.

The double chair is a one-off curiosity bearing the names of churchwardens Thomas Stafford and Thomas Pistor from 1690. There are also reredos above the altar, original to the church, with the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed. Look out for the 17th-century bread shelves where wealthy parishioners left bread for the poor to collect.

An 18th-century sword rest is on display, and an original bell of the church is displayed and mentioned in Little Dorritt by Charles Dickens. Captain William Penn, the father of William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania), was married at the church in 1643. Also, look out for the font inscribed in Greek: "NIYON ANOMHA MH MONAN OYIN" (cleanse my sins, not only my face). It is a palindrome, reading the same forwards and backwards.

I am tour guide Lee Cooper, an ex-cabby and a member of the FCC (Friends of the City Churches), which is a group of volunteers (church watchers) who open the churches so the public can have access to these historical buildings with so much history and stories attached to them. I've only watched a few churches so far but plan to do more. Watch this space for more interesting churches in the city of London.