Known as the "the church of the press," thanks to its location at the end of Fleet Street, St. Bride's is a remarkable landmark. The current church is the eighth one that has stood here. After it was bombed in 1940, an archaeologist excavated the crypts and was able to confirm much of the site's legendary history: A Roman house was discovered, and it was established that in the sixth century, St. Brigit of Ireland had founded the first Christian church that was built here. In addition, a crypt with evidence of six subsequent churches was discovered. Among the famous parishioners have been writers John Dryden, John Milton, Richard Lovelace, and John Evelyn. Diarist Samuel Pepys was baptized here, and novelist Samuel Richardson and his family are buried here. After the Great Fire destroyed it, Christopher Wren rebuilt the church with a spire that's been described as a "madrigal in stone." The crypt was a burial chamber and charnel house for centuries; today, it's a museum. Choral concerts are given on Tuesday and Friday, though they are often suspended during Lent and Christmas.

The parents of Virginia Dare, the first English child born in America (at Roanoke in 1587) were married in St. Bride's. An effigy of Virginia can be seen over the baptismal font.