Christ Child, Limestone sculpture at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, United Kingdom
Christ Child is a Portland limestone sculpture by Michael Chapman depicting a life-sized infant, placed under the portico of St Martin-in-the-Fields in Westminster. It sits directly at the church entrance, facing the northeastern corner of Trafalgar Square.
The sculpture was installed in 1999 as part of London's millennium celebrations, when the city commissioned several new works for its public spaces. St Martin-in-the-Fields, where it stands, dates back to the early 18th century and has long been a focal point on the north side of Trafalgar Square.
A passage from the Gospel of John runs around the stone figure, combining Christian scripture with contemporary sculpture in the heart of London. This detail gives the work a devotional quality that sets it apart from other public art nearby.
The sculpture is free to view at any time, as it stands outdoors under the church portico. The area can get crowded during the day, so an early morning or late afternoon visit tends to be quieter.
The block of Portland limestone from which the figure was carved originally weighed around 4.5 tonnes. Most of that material was cut away to leave the form of a small child, making the final work far lighter than the stone it began as.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
