The Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary - London, Watling Street (01 & 79)
Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary
Situated at 69 Watling St, London, EC4N 4SJ.
There has been a church on this for about 900 years. The patronage belonged to the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury and was later transferred to the Archbishop in 1400.
Sir Henry Keeble paid for the building of a new church in 1510, but he died in 1518 leaving the tower still to be finished. It wasn’t until 1629 where two legacies enabled the church to be completed by 1632.
Poor Henry Keeble what was supposed to be his resting place, his dream was short-lived. His mortal remains were removed to be replaced by those of Two Lord Mayors, Sir William Laxton and Sir Thomas Lodge. To add insult to injury, his monument was also destroyed.
The church was badly damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666, the tower and parts of its walls survived. A gentleman called Henry Rogers had left a legacy of £5,000 of which his widow had stipulated that the church should be rebuilt as a replica of the old one.
Sir Christopher Wren did the majority of the rebuilding in the ‘Gothic’ style. Pevsner writes ‘It is the chief surviving monument of 17th century Gothic revival in the City’.
Another church that was destroyed in the Great Fire ‘St Thomas the Apostle’ was now united with St Mary’s. St Thomas’s was not rebuilt.
A new organ was installed, built by George England and Hugh Russell in 1781. There were major restorations between 1876-77. A new Oak Screen was added, pews and stalls were replaced. The organ was moved from the Western Gallery to the Chancel, new glass to windows and a new Reredos installed.
The church was damaged in the Second World War but the damage was minor when set against the destruction to other churches in the vicinity.
The church was designated a Grade 1 listed building in 1950
April 2005 was the last major restorations, particular attention to plaster ceilings, memorials on the North Wall.
There are many famous people buried here but many are forgotten to us. Past Lord Mayors, Military figures and members of the Clergy glorified at the time but now not remembered in the mists of time. I found one reference to Richard Chaucer, a vintner, said to be the father of Geoffrey Chaucer of Canterbury Tales fame.
Since 2007 St Mary’s has been the Regimental Church of the Royal Tank Regiment. Also if you look at the many stained glass windows you will see many emblems of the London Guilds (Trades).
Definition of guild church. : an English metropolitan church that has been freed from parish responsibilities in order to minister full time to nonresident city workers during their hours in the city. This provided by Merriam-Webster.
The Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary - London, Watling Street (01 & 79)
Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary
Situated at 69 Watling St, London, EC4N 4SJ.
There has been a church on this for about 900 years. The patronage belonged to the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury and was later transferred to the Archbishop in 1400.
Sir Henry Keeble paid for the building of a new church in 1510, but he died in 1518 leaving the tower still to be finished. It wasn’t until 1629 where two legacies enabled the church to be completed by 1632.
Poor Henry Keeble what was supposed to be his resting place, his dream was short-lived. His mortal remains were removed to be replaced by those of Two Lord Mayors, Sir William Laxton and Sir Thomas Lodge. To add insult to injury, his monument was also destroyed.
The church was badly damaged by the Great Fire of London in 1666, the tower and parts of its walls survived. A gentleman called Henry Rogers had left a legacy of £5,000 of which his widow had stipulated that the church should be rebuilt as a replica of the old one.
Sir Christopher Wren did the majority of the rebuilding in the ‘Gothic’ style. Pevsner writes ‘It is the chief surviving monument of 17th century Gothic revival in the City’.
Another church that was destroyed in the Great Fire ‘St Thomas the Apostle’ was now united with St Mary’s. St Thomas’s was not rebuilt.
A new organ was installed, built by George England and Hugh Russell in 1781. There were major restorations between 1876-77. A new Oak Screen was added, pews and stalls were replaced. The organ was moved from the Western Gallery to the Chancel, new glass to windows and a new Reredos installed.
The church was damaged in the Second World War but the damage was minor when set against the destruction to other churches in the vicinity.
The church was designated a Grade 1 listed building in 1950
April 2005 was the last major restorations, particular attention to plaster ceilings, memorials on the North Wall.
There are many famous people buried here but many are forgotten to us. Past Lord Mayors, Military figures and members of the Clergy glorified at the time but now not remembered in the mists of time. I found one reference to Richard Chaucer, a vintner, said to be the father of Geoffrey Chaucer of Canterbury Tales fame.
Since 2007 St Mary’s has been the Regimental Church of the Royal Tank Regiment. Also if you look at the many stained glass windows you will see many emblems of the London Guilds (Trades).
Definition of guild church. : an English metropolitan church that has been freed from parish responsibilities in order to minister full time to nonresident city workers during their hours in the city. This provided by Merriam-Webster.