The facade was cased in Portland stone in 1735. On the north side of the west wall is a modern memorial to those of the Commonwealth (or 'Roundhead') party who are buried within this 'parliamentary' churchyard. In a niche over a doorway (no longer in use) in the east wall of the church is a bust in lead of King Charles I. In this position he defiantly faces the statue of Oliver Cromwell standing outside Westminster Hall on the other side of the road.

The tower and its bells

The tower was largely rebuilt in the 1730s and is an important example of early eighteenth-century Gothic.

Within the tower is a ring of ten bells, the oldest dating from 1739. In 1939 the firm of Gillett & Johnston of Croydon re-hung the bells with new fittings in their old oak frame. The four treble bells, no. 6 and the tenor bell were recast at the same time.

Sundials

The four sundials on the Tower were added in 1982 to commemorate a service held at St Margaret’s for the 20th annual session of the North Atlantic Assembly held in November 1974. The service was attended by Members of the Parliaments of NATO countries. The sundials were given by the Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey de Freitas, President of the Assembly.