St Clement Danes (RAF)

St Clement Danes is the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, on a traffic island in the Strand near the Royal Courts of Justice. Inside, RAF books of remembrance and artefacts sit alongside memorials to air forces that served with the RAF. Look up the barrel-vaulted ceiling, carved wooden pulpit and wide central aisle, and listen for the bells playing “Oranges and Lemons”. Entry is free, with donations welcomed. The crypt has more RAF displays, but access can vary.

A church on the Strand

St Clement Danes stands on a traffic island in the Strand, close to the Royal Courts of Justice. The church is dedicated to the Royal Air Force and serves as its Central Church. The first church on the site is reputed to date to the ninth century; the present building was completed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1682.

The church was destroyed by bombing during the Second World War and later rebuilt. It was reconsecrated as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force in 1958. Its RAF role is visible throughout the interior, where remembrance and service are central themes.

Inside the church

A wide central aisle runs beneath a barrel-vaulted ceiling towards the altar. Look for the carved wooden pulpit and the deep pews, then take time to read the memorials around the church. The Books of Remembrance commemorate people who died in Royal Air Force service. RAF artefacts and badges trace the service’s history, while other memorials recognise air forces that served alongside it, including Polish and American forces.

Photographs and memorabilia are also displayed towards the back of the church. The interior has a spacious layout, giving visitors room to look through the exhibits and memorials at their own pace.