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City of London Churches

During the Saxon and medieval periods many churches were established within the City of London. They eventually numbered around 120, each serving a tiny parish of just several blocks. Most were destroyed in 1666 during the Great Fire of London and not all rebuilt. Others were demolished in the 19th century as the City became less residential. Some were not rebuilt after destruction in the Second World War. Here we look at those City churches that remain today.

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All Hallows by the Tower

Byward Street, London EC3R 5BJ

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All Hallows London Wall

83 London Wall, London EC2M 5ND

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Holy Sepulchre without Newgate

Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ

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St. Andrew by the Wardrobe

St Andrew's Hill, Queen Victoria Sreet, London EC4V 5DE

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St. Andrew Holborn

5 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AF

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St. Andrew Undershaft

St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BN

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St. Anne & St. Agnes

7 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7BX

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St. Bartholomew the Great

West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS

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St. Bartholomew the Less

57A West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS

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St. Benet Paul's Wharf

93 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4ER

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St. Botolph Aldersgate

Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4EU

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St. Botolph Bishopsgate

St Botolph without, Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TL

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St. Botolph without Aldgate

Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1AB

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St. Bride's Fleet Street

Fleet St, London EC4Y 8AU

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St. Clement Eastcheap

27 Clements Lane St Clement, Eastcheap

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St. Dunstan in the West

186a Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AT

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St. Edmund King and Martyr

57-59 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9EA

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St. Ethelburga

78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

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St. Giles Cripplegate

Fore Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DA

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St. Helen's Bishopsgate

Great St Helen's, London EC3A 6AT

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St. James Garlickhythe

Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AF

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St. Katharine Cree

86 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP

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St. Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall

Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AA

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St. Magnus the Martyr

Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DN

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St. Margaret Lothbury

Lothbury, London EC2R 7HH

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St. Margaret Pattens

Rood Lane, London EC3M 1HS

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St. Martin Ludgate

40 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7DE

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St. Mary Abcurch

Abchurch Yard, London EC4N 7BA

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St. Mary Aldermary

Bow Lane, London EC4M 9BW

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St. Mary at Hill

Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE

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St. Mary Moorfields (Catholic)

4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LS

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St. Mary Woolnoth

10-13 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AN

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St. Mary-le-Bow

Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

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St. Michael Cornhill

St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS

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St. Michael Paternoster Royal

College Hill, London EC4R 2RL

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St. Nicholas Cole Abbey

114 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BJ

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St. Olave Hart Street

8 Hart Street, London EC3R 7NB

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St. Peter upon Cornhill

Cornhill, London EC3V 3PD

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St. Stephen Walbrook

39 Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN

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St. Vedast alias Foster

4 Foster Lane, London EC2V 6HH

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Browse the City of London churches

40

All Hallows by the Tower

Byward Street, London EC3R 5BJ

All Hallows by-the-Tower stands beside the Tower of London. Dating back to the introduction of Christianity into Britain during the Saxon period it can claim to be the oldest church in the City and one of the earliest in London. It was heavily bombed during the Second World War but rebuilt and reopened in the 1950s.

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All Hallows London Wall

83 London Wall, London EC2M 5ND

All Hallows was built in medieval times abutting the old city wall. It escaped the Great Fire, was rebuilt in the 18th century, destroyed in the Blitz, and rebuilt again in the 1960s.

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Holy Sepulchre without Newgate

Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DQ

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is named after the church of the same name in Jerusalem. It had a long association with the nearby Newgate Prison. Holy Sepulchre is the largest of the post-Great Fire City parish churches.

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St. Andrew by the Wardrobe

St Andrew's Hill, Queen Victoria Sreet, London EC4V 5DE

St. Andrew by the Wardrobe church near Blackfriars was established in the medieval period. It is now the parish church of that part of the City of London.

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St. Andrew Holborn

5 St Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AF

The large church of St. Andrew Holborn once stood in a prominent position on the side of the Fleet Valley. Since the creation of Holborn Viaduct in the 19th century it has sat instead on a busy road junction. It escaped the Great Fire but was anyway rebuilt by Wren on ancient foundations.

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St. Andrew Undershaft

St Mary Axe, London EC3A 8BN

St. Andrew Undershaft takes its name from the giant maypole that once stood in front of the church. It is now surrounded by the tall modern buildings of the City’s financial district.

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St. Anne & St. Agnes

7 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7BX

The ancient St. Anne and St. Agnes is the only City church with a double dedication of saints. It was rebuilt following the Great Fire, and again after the Blitz.

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St. Bartholomew the Great

West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS

The Norman-era St. Barthlomew the Great was one of the monasteries that dominated London throughout the Middle Ages, and the medieval building is the oldest continuous place of worship in London. Its choir is perhaps the most substantial 12th-century structure in London.

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St. Bartholomew the Less

57A West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS

The small but charming 12th century St. Barthlomew the Less at Smithfield is the chapel of Bart’s Hospital.

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St. Benet Paul's Wharf

93 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4ER

The attractive St. Benet’s is unique in the City of London in holding services in the Welsh language.

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St. Botolph Aldersgate

Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4EU

St. Botolph Aldersgate is one of four churches in London that were dedicated to the patron saint of travellers, each located adjacent to one of the old gates of London.

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St. Botolph Bishopsgate

St Botolph without, Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TL

The area around Bishopsgate was one of the most prosperous in the City and in the 18th century its parish church of St. Botolph was rebuilt at great expense.

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St. Botolph without Aldgate

Aldgate High Street, London EC3N 1AB

St. Botolph’s without Aldgate, which was located outside of the old Roman gate on the east side of London, is one of four City churches that were dedicated to the patron saint of travellers.

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St. Bride's Fleet Street

Fleet St, London EC4Y 8AU

St. Bride’s is one of the more famous City of London churches due to its wedding cake steeple and connections with Fleet Street journalism.

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St. Clement Eastcheap

27 Clements Lane St Clement, Eastcheap

St. Clement Eastcheap is one of the City’s smallest churches and smallest parishes. It is hidden down a small lane that is now disconnected to Eastcheap.

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St. Dunstan in the West

186a Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AT

The imposing tower of St. Dunstan-in-the-West dominates the centre of Fleet Street on the west side of the City of London. The interesting exterior, unique amongst City churches, belies the unusual church within.

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St. Edmund King and Martyr

57-59 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9EA

St. Edmund King and Martyr dates back to Saxon or early Norman times and was rebuilt following the Great Fire. It is the only church in the City to be damaged by bombing in both the First and Second World Wars.

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St. Ethelburga

78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG

St. Ethelburga’s is the smallest church in the City of London, sandwiched between larger office buildings, and the only one in the country dedicated to that saint. It is now the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation.

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St. Giles Cripplegate

Fore Street, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DA

St. Giles Cripplegate escaped the Great Fire. Although badly damaged during the Second World War, it is in part a rare survivor amongst City churches from the late Middle Ages.

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St. Helen's Bishopsgate

Great St Helen's, London EC3A 6AT

St. Helen’s survived both the Great Fire and the Blitz is therefore one of the few remaining medieval City churches. It is unusual in being two churches joined into one. Its collection of monuments is unequalled in any City church. St. Helen’s continues as a very active parish church, attended by City workers and worshippers from far and wide.

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St. James Garlickhythe

Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AF

The very name of St. James Garlickhythe reminds us of the ancient establishment of this church. It contains the tallest nave of any of Wren’s churches. St. James remains a parish church, incorporating other former surrounding parishes.

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St. Katharine Cree

86 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP

St. Katharine’s was rebuilt in the early 17th century but incorporating a Tudor-period tower. It survived the Great Fire and the Second World War and is thus is an unusual hybrid between Gothic Perpendicular and Classical. The church remains loyal to King Charles I and Archbishop William Laud, both of whom were beheaded by opposing forces in the 1640s.

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St. Lawrence Jewry-next-Guildhall

Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AA

St. Lawrence Jewry was destroyed in both the Great Fire and the Second World War. Separated from the Guildhall by only Guildhall Yard, since being rebuilt after the war it has been the official church of the City of London Corporation.

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St. Magnus the Martyr

Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DN

For 700 years St. Magnus the Martyr church stood at the northern end of the old London Bridge. During most of that time the bridge was the only crossing over the Thames and thus anyone travelling across the river would have passed the entrance of the church.

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St. Margaret Lothbury

Lothbury, London EC2R 7HH

St. Mary Lothbury is a small church in the shadow of the Bank of England. It was rebuilt following the Great Fire and escaped bombing in the Second World War. It thus has a fine collection of 17th century furnishings, many brought from City churches that no longer exist.

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St. Margaret Pattens

Rood Lane, London EC3M 1HS

St. Margaret Pattens was rebuilt in the 17th century and largely unharmed during the Second World War. It therefore contains many interesting late 17th century features.

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St. Martin Ludgate

40 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7DE

Looking up Ludgate Hill from Ludgate Circus towards St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the classic views of London, which has appeared in numerous paintings and photographs. Therefore, the spire of St. Martin’s, halfway up the hill on the left has often been represented. It largely remains as it was at the time it was rebuilt in the late 17th century.

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St. Mary Abcurch

Abchurch Yard, London EC4N 7BA

St. Mary Abchurch was rebuilt under Christopher Wren. The interior is breathtaking due to the unique and beautifully painted interior dome. It was one of the few City churches that was not badly damaged during the Blitz and therefore contains some exquisite late 17th century furnishings, especially that by Grinling Gibbons.

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St. Mary Aldermary

Bow Lane, London EC4M 9BW

St. Mary Aldermary is an oddity as the only one of the churches rebuilt after the Great Fire – and the only one of Wren’s churches – in the Gothic style.

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St. Mary at Hill

Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EE

St. Mary at Hill is an odd juxtaposition of two styles from different eras: a Wren building with a 15th century tower. Until the late 20th century it could be described as having a “gorgeous” interior but the church has been vulnerable to fires. Nevertheless, it remains a very attractive church and still contains much of interest, sitting in a very atmospheric part of the City.

 

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St. Mary Moorfields (Catholic)

4-5 Eldon Street, London EC2M 7LS

St. Mary Moorfields is the only Roman Catholic church in the City of London. The current building, which opened in 1903, is also relatively new compared with the other City churches.

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St. Mary Woolnoth

10-13 Lombard Street, London EC3V 9AN

St. Mary Woolnoth is the only church in the City designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, the former assistant of Christopher Wren. It stands across from Mansion House, the official home of the Lord Mayor, and thus is the Lord Mayor’s church.

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St. Mary-le-Bow

Cheapside, London EC2V 6AU

The term ‘cockney’ has long been associated with Londoners. Since the 17th century it has been used to describe those born within the sound of ‘Bow Bells’, that is the bells of St. Mary-le-Bow church in Cheapside. Legend has it that the bells persuaded Dick Whittington to turn back to London. St. Mary-le-Bow is one of the oldest and most important churches in the City of London.

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St. Michael Cornhill

St Michael's Alley, London EC3V 9DS

Although rebuilt after the Great Fire, it is unlikely that Wren had much involvement. The 17th century interior was anyway greatly altered during the 19th century. The individually-carved pew benches are particularly noteworthy.

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St. Michael Paternoster Royal

College Hill, London EC4R 2RL

St. Michael Paternoster Royal was rebuilt by local resident Sir Richard Whittington in the 15th century, and it is where he and his wife were buried. It is a fine Wren-era church, restored after being badly damaged in the Second World War. Sadly, it is currently closed and for sale.

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St. Nicholas Cole Abbey

114 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BJ

During medieval times the parishioners of St. Nicholas were primarily fishmongers. It was destroyed or badly damaged in both the Great Fire and Second World War but has been well-restored.

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St. Olave Hart Street

8 Hart Street, London EC3R 7NB

The small church of St. Olave Hart Street on the eastern side of the City of London is of Saxon origin. It is one of only eight churches in the City that remain from before the Great Fire of London, but was carefully restored after much destruction during the Second World War.

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St. Peter upon Cornhill

Cornhill, London EC3V 3PD

St. Peter upon Cornhill is one of two churches standing almost back-to-back at Cornhill. It is no longer used for regular services, and the pews have been removed, but its Wren-era interior still contains some fine and interesting features.

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St. Stephen Walbrook

39 Walbrook, London EC4N 8BN

St. Stephen Walbrook is often cited as Sir Christopher Wren’s greatest City of London church, one of his masterpieces, with a perfectly-proportioned interior. It is particularly notable for its magnificent dome, used by Wren in his experimentation, leading to that of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The church as a whole exemplifies Wren’s genius as an architect and mathematician.

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St. Vedast alias Foster

4 Foster Lane, London EC2V 6HH

St. Vedast is a small but handsome parish church, on the corner of Foster Lane and Cheapside, and close to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Its parish consists of many smaller City parishes of former parochial churches.

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Religion and Churches

Religion has always played an important part in London’s history.

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St. Nicholas Cole Abbey

St. Michael Cornhill

St.Peter upon Cornhill

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