The beautiful St Bride's

I’ve said it before, and I’ve no qualms about saying it again: since I’ve started this challenge, all kinds of literary coincidences have attracted my attention.

Take Saturday, when I attended the lovely wedding of the even lovelier Liz and Rufus. I’d never heard of St Bride’s Church, but its location on Fleet Street suggested links to the publishing industry and I wasn’t disappointed. Indeed, it was true delight.

‘The cathedral of Fleet Street’ or ‘church of the press’, as it’s known, was impressive to say the least. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the fine steeple became the model for traditional wedding cakes, which was first made by a baker on the nearby Ludgate Hill and was no doubt popularised by the numerous newspapers, magazines and other publications located all around.

According to the informative order of service, the church’s association with printing and publishing dates back to 1500 when Wynken De Worde, an apprentice of William Caxton (reportedly the first man to introduce the printing press to England), brought his press to the parish. He was eventually buried in St Bride’s.

Since then, the likes of John Dryden, John Milton, John Evelyn, Samuel Pepys, Dr Johnson and Charles Dickens have congregated here, and although their days have long gone - as have the newspapers, who have gradually moved away – the historical links with the press remain: it was fascinating to see some of the seats are engraved with the names of assorted individuals and companies associated with printing, from giants such as Lord Beaverbrook to OK! magazine.

The reception was held a short walk away at Stationers Hall, the home of the original Guild of Stationers (booksellers who copied and sold manuscript books and writing materials and limners who decorated and illustrated them). This became The Stationers' Company, which is closely connected with the communication industries that have derived from the original trades of the guild such as printing, packaging, advertising, design, photography, film and video production and print and digital publishing.

All that, and a bloody brilliant wedding, too. A pretty perfect day all on fronts.