James Gibbs, a student of Christopher Wren, is noted for his English churches, e.g., St Mary-le-Strand (1714-1717) and St. Martin's-in-the-Fields (1721-1726). He also designed the circular Radcliffe Camera at Oxford University.

He wrote extensively, and his books had tremendous influence on American architecture, especially  steepled churches, such as St. Michael's in Cambridge, the First Baptist  Meeting House in Providence, R.I., Christ Church in Cambridge by Peter Harrison, Old North Church in Boston, and the Old South Meeting House also in Boston.