Sir Christopher Wren was 33 years old and near the beginning of his career as an architect when the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many of the city's public buildings, including 88 of its parish churches. Wren's office was commissioned to build 51 replacement churches and St Paul's Cathedral. Many of these buildings survive to this day; others have been substantially altered or rebuilt. Some others were completely or partially destroyed during the German Blitz of 1940–41; others were demolished for different reasons.
Many of Wren's churches were demolished as the population of the City of London declined in the 19th century and more were destroyed or damaged during the Blitz.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Benet Paul's Wharf | Queen Victoria Street, Queenhithe, City of London | 1677–83 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′42.01″N 0°5′57.38″W / 51.5116694°N 0.0992722°W | |
St Clement Eastcheap | Clement's Lane, Candlewick, City of London | 1683–87 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′40.77″N 0°5′12.81″W / 51.5113250°N 0.0868917°W | |
St Edmund, King and Martyr | Lombard Street, Langbourn, City of London | 1670–79 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′44.62″N 0°5′10.68″W / 51.5123944°N 0.0863000°W | |
St James Garlickhythe | Garlick Hill, Vintry, City of London | 1676–83 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′39.99″N 0°5′37.54″W / 51.5111083°N 0.0937611°W | |
St Margaret Lothbury | Lothbury, Coleman Street Ward and Broad Street Ward, City of London | 1686–90 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′52.91″N 0°5′19.92″W / 51.5146972°N 0.0888667°W | |
St Margaret Pattens | Eastcheap, Billingsgate, City of London | 1684–87 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′38.75″N 0°4′58.74″W / 51.5107639°N 0.0829833°W | |
St Martin, Ludgate | Ludgate Hill, Farringdon Within, City of London | 1677–84 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′50.55″N 0°6′6.99″W / 51.5140417°N 0.1019417°W | |
St Mary Abchurch | Abchurch Lane, Candlewick, City of London | 1681–86 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′42.02″N 0°5′18.05″W / 51.5116722°N 0.0883472°W | |
St Mary Aldermary | Queen Victoria Street, Cordwainer, City of London | 1679–82 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′46″N 0°05′36″W / 51.51278°N 0.09333°W | |
St Michael's Cornhill | Cornhill, Cornhill, City of London | 1669–72 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′47.50″N 0°5′7.68″W / 51.5131944°N 0.0854667°W | |
St Paul's Cathedral | St Paul's Churchyard, Castle Baynard, City of London | 1675-1711 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′49″N 0°05′53″W / 51.51361°N 0.09806°W | |
St Peter upon Cornhill | Cornhill, Cornhill, City of London | 1677–84 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′47.7″N 0°5′4.5″W / 51.513250°N 0.084583°W | |
St Stephen Walbrook | Walbrook, Walbrook, City of London | 1672–79 | Grade I (1950) | 51°30′45.46″N 0°5′23.71″W / 51.5126278°N 0.0899194°W |
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Magnus-the-Martyr | Lower Thames Street, Bridge, City of London | 1671–87 | Grade I (1950) | altered after London Bridge was widened in 1762 | 51°30′33.41″N 0°5′10.81″W / 51.5092806°N 0.0863361°W | |
St Mary-at-Hill | Lovat Lane, Billingsgate, City of London | 1670–76 | Grade I (1950) | altered in 1787–88 and 1826–27 | 51°30′36″N 0°05′01″W / 51.510069°N 0.08374°W |
The Blitz in 1940–1941 damaged nearly all the churches in the City of London and many were nearly destroyed leaving just the outer walls and tower. However most of them were rebuilt to Wren's original design.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe | Queen Victoria Street, Castle Baynard, City of London | 1685–95 | Grade I (1950) | rededicated in 1961 | 51°30′44.44″N 0°6′4.89″W / 51.5123444°N 0.1013583°W | |
St Andrew, Holborn | Holborn Viaduct, Farringdon Without, City of London | 1686–87 | Grade I (1950) | re-opened in 1961 | 51°31′2.10″N 0°6′24.14″W / 51.5172500°N 0.1067056°W | |
St Anne and St Agnes | Gresham Street, Aldersgate, City of London | 1676–87 | Grade I (1950) | rededicated in 1966 | 51°30′59″N 0°5′47″W / 51.51639°N 0.09639°W | |
St Bride's Church | Fleet Street, Castle Baynard, City of London | 1670–84 | Grade I (1950) | rededicated in 1957 | 51°30′50″N 0°6′21″W / 51.51389°N 0.10583°W | |
St Lawrence Jewry | Gresham Street, Cheap, City of London | 1670–86 | Grade I (1950) | restored in 1957 | 51°30′55″N 0°05′33″W / 51.5152°N 0.0925°W | |
St Mary-le-Bow | Cheapside, Cordwainer, City of London | 1670–83 | Grade I (1950) | reconsecrated in 1964 | 51°30′50″N 0°05′37″W / 51.51389°N 0.09361°W | |
St Michael Paternoster Royal | College Hill, Dowgate, City of London | 1686–94 | Grade I (1950) | restored in 1966–8 | 51°30′40.22″N 0°5′31.76″W / 51.5111722°N 0.0921556°W | |
St Nicholas Cole Abbey | Queen Victoria Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London | 1671–81 | Grade I (1950) | reconsecrated in 1962 | 51°30′43″N 0°5′48″W / 51.51194°N 0.09667°W | |
St Vedast Foster Lane | Foster Lane, Cheap, City of London | 1670–97 | Grade I (1950) | restored by 1962 | 51°30′53.56″N 0°5′46.08″W / 51.5148778°N 0.0961333°W |
These churches were destroyed in the Blitz or demolished in the 19th century. Only their towers remained with perhaps a short section of the outer wall. They are no longer working churches.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Mary Somerset | Upper Thames Street, Queenhithe, City of London | 1686–94 | Grade I (1950) | Body of the church demolished in 1871. Tower surrounded by small garden | 51°30′40.92″N 0°5′48.80″W / 51.5113667°N 0.0968889°W | |
St Olave Old Jewry | Ironmonger Lane, Walbrook, City of London | 1670–79 | Grade I (1950) | Body of the church was demolished in 1887. Tower is part of an office building. | 51°30′52.15″N 0°5′28.70″W / 51.5144861°N 0.0913056°W | |
Christ Church Greyfriars | Newgate Street, Farringdon Within, City of London | 1677–91 | Grade I (1950) | Destroyed in the Blitz. The ruins are a public garden, the tower is private residence | 51°30′56.94″N 0°5′56.93″W / 51.5158167°N 0.0991472°W | |
St Alban's, Wood Street | Wood Street, Bassishaw, City of London | 1682–87 | Grade II (1950) | Destroyed in the Blitz. The tower is private dwelling | 51°30′59.69″N 0°5′38.95″W / 51.5165806°N 0.0941528°W | |
St Augustine Watling Street | Watling Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London | 1680–87 | Grade I (1950) | Destroyed in the Blitz. Tower part of St Paul's Cathedral Choir School | 51°30′48.52″N 00°05′49.00″W / 51.5134778°N 0.0969444°W | |
St Dunstan-in-the-East | St Dunstan's Hill, Billingsgate, City of London | 1698 | Grade I (1950) | Rebuilt in 1817–21, but destroyed in the Blitz. Ruins are a public garden | 51°30′34.82″N 0°4′57.80″W / 51.5096722°N 0.0827222°W |
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All Hallows Lombard Street | Lombard Street, Langbourn, City of London | 1686–94 | never listed | Demolished in 1939, with the tower and interior fittings moved to All Hallows Twickenham | 51°30′39.09″N 0°5′5.84″W / 51.5108583°N 0.0849556°W | |
St Mary Aldermanbury | Aldermanbury, Bassishaw, City of London | 1670–74 | Grade II (1972) | Ruined in 1940, and the stones transported to Fulton, Missouri in 1964. Rebuilt as a memorial to Sir Winston Churchill | 51°30′59.34″N 0°5′35.06″W / 51.5164833°N 0.0930722°W |
The population of the City of London declined sharply in the 19th century, and the Union of Benefices Act 1860 reduced the number of parish churches. The surplus churches were demolished.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Benet Gracechurch | Gracechurch Street, Bridge, City of London | 1681–87 | demolished in 1868 | 51°30′42″N 0°5′6″W / 51.51167°N 0.08500°W | |
St Mildred, Poultry | Poultry, Walbrook, City of London | 1670–77 | demolished in 1872 | 51°30′49″N 0°5′24″W / 51.51361°N 0.09000°W | |
St Antholin, Budge Row | Watling Street, Cordwainer, City of London | 1678–84 | demolished in 1875 | 51°30′45″N 0°05′31″W / 51.51250°N 0.09194°W | |
St Michael Queenhithe | Upper Thames Street, Queenhithe, City of London | 1676–86 | demolished in 1876 | 51°30′40″N 0°5′42″W / 51.51111°N 0.09500°W | |
All Hallows Bread Street | Bread Street, Cordwainer, City of London | 1681–98 | demolished in 1878 | 51°30′47″N 0°05′42″W / 51.5131°N 0.0951°W | |
St Dionis Backchurch | Fenchurch Street, Langbourn, City of London | 1670–77 | demolished in 1878 | 51°30′43″N 0°5′2″W / 51.51194°N 0.08389°W | |
St Matthew Friday Street | Friday Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London | 1682–85 | demolished in 1885 | 51°30′49″N 0°5′44″W / 51.51361°N 0.09556°W | |
St Mary Magdalen Old Fish Street | Old Change, Bread Street, City of London | 1683–87 | demolished in 1893 | 51°30′45″N 0°5′51″W / 51.51250°N 0.09750°W | |
All-Hallows-the-Great | Upper Thames Street, Dowgate, City of London | 1677–84 | demolished in 1894 | 51°30′36″N 0°05′25″W / 51.5100°N 0.0902°W | |
St Michael Wood Street | Wood Street, Cripplegate, City of London | 1670–75 | demolished in 1897 | 51°30′56″N 0°5′41.5″W / 51.51556°N 0.094861°W |
Image | Name | Location | Date | Demolition | Reason | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Christopher le Stocks | Threadneedle Street, Walbrook, City of London | 1670–71 | demolished in 1782 | to provide space for the extension of the Bank of England | 51°30′51″N 0°05′19″W / 51.5141°N 0.0886°W | |
St Michael, Crooked Lane | Miles's Lane, Candlewick, City of London | 1687 | demolished in 1831 | wider approaches were needed for the rebuilt London Bridge | 51°30′39″N 0°05′14″W / 51.51070°N 0.087280°W | |
St Bartholomew-by-the-Exchange | Bartholomew Lane, Walbrook, City of London | 1675–83 | demolished in 1840 | to provide space for the widening of Threadneedle Street | 51°30′50″N 0°05′14″W / 51.51376°N 0.0873°W | |
St Benet Fink | Threadneedle Street, Cornhill, City of London | 1670–75 | demolished between 1841 and 1846 | to improve the site of the Royal Exchange | 51°30′50″N 0°5′10″W / 51.51389°N 0.08611°W | |
St Michael Bassishaw | Basinghall Street, Bassishaw, City of London | 1675–79 | demolished in 1900 | judged structurally unsafe in 1892 | 51°31′0.1″N 0°5′30″W / 51.516694°N 0.09167°W | |
St George Botolph Lane | Botolph Lane, Bridge, City of London | 1671–76 | demolished in 1904 | judged structurally unsafe and closed 1901 | 51°30′38″N 0°5′7″W / 51.51056°N 0.08528°W |
These churches were destroyed in the Blitz and their ruins demolished afterwards.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Demolition | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Stephen Coleman Street | Coleman Street, Coleman Street Ward, City of London | 1677 | 1940 | 51°30′56″N 0°05′25″W / 51.5155°N 0.0904°W | |
St Mildred, Bread Street | Bread Street, Vintry, City of London | 1677–83 | 1941 | 51°30′44″N 0°05′43″W / 51.5123°N 0.0952°W | |
St Swithin, London Stone | Cannon Street, Walbrook, City of London | 1678 | 1962 | 51°30′42″N 0°5′22″W / 51.51167°N 0.08944°W |
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Temple Church | Fleet Street, Farringdon Without, City of London | 1682–83 | Grade I (1950) | During the restoration after the Blitz Wren's wooden altar was discovered in a museum and was restored to its original position | 51°30′47.52″N 0°06′37.44″W / 51.5132000°N 0.1104000°W |
These churches were outside the area of the Great Fire of London.
Image | Name | Location | Date | Listing | Comment | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St Anne's Church, Soho | Dean Street, Soho, City of Westminster | 1677–85 | Grade II (1958) | The body of the church by Wren and William Talman was destroyed in the Blitz and later totally demolished; the preserved tower was built by S. P. Cockerell in 1801–03 | 51°30′45″N 0°07′56″W / 51.5124°N 0.1323°W | |
St Clement Danes | Strand, City of Westminster | 1680–82 | Grade I (1958) | Destroyed in 1941; reconsecrated in 1958 after the Blitz. | 51°30′47″N 0°06′50″W / 51.513107°N 0.113898°W | |
St James's Church, Piccadilly | Piccadilly, St James's, City of Westminster | 1676–84 | Grade I (1958) | Destroyed in 1940; restored in 1947–54 after the Blitz | 51°30′31″N 0°8′12″W / 51.50861°N 0.13667°W | |
Chapel of the Royal Hospital Chelsea | Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | 1682–87 | Grade I (1969) | Wren designed the rest of the Hospital, as well. | 51°29′11″N 0°9′28″W / 51.48639°N 0.15778°W |