Commission for Building Fifty New Churches facts for kids

The Commission for Building Fifty New Churches was a special group set up in England way back in 1711. Their big goal was to build 50 new churches in and around London. London was growing super fast, and they needed more places for people to worship. Even though they didn't reach their goal of 50, they did build many important churches. These churches are often called the Queen Anne Churches because Queen Anne was the ruler at the time.

Building New Churches in London

This Commission was created by a special law called an Act of Parliament. This law, passed in 1711, aimed to help London's quickly growing population.

Who Designed the Churches?

Most of these new churches were designed by a famous architect named Nicholas Hawksmoor. Other talented architects like John James, Thomas Archer, and James Gibbs also helped out.

Some of the Churches Built

Here are some of the churches that the Commission helped to build or rebuild:

• Christ Church, Spitalfields (designed by Hawksmoor, built 1714–1729)
• St Alfege Church, Greenwich (Hawksmoor, 1712–1718, a rebuild)
• St Anne's Limehouse (Hawksmoor, 1714–1730)
• St George's, Bloomsbury (Hawksmoor, 1716–1731)
• St George in the East (Hawksmoor, 1714–1729)
• St George's, Hanover Square (James, 1720–1725)
• St John Horsleydown (Hawksmoor and James, 1727–1733)
• St John's, Smith Square (Archer, 1713–1728)
• St Luke Old Street (Hawksmoor and James, 1727–1733)
• St Mary le Strand (Gibbs, 1714–1723)
• St Mary Woolnoth (Hawksmoor, 1716–1724, a rebuild)
• St Paul's, Deptford (Archer, 1713–1730)

The Commission also helped pay for the rebuilding of five other churches. They also bought and changed St George the Martyr, Holborn and bought St John Clerkenwell.

How Was the Project Funded?

The money for these new churches came from a special tax. This tax was placed on coal that was brought into London. This "coal duty" had actually started in 1670. It was first used to help rebuild St Paul's Cathedral and other churches. These older churches had been destroyed in the terrible Great Fire of London.

When the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches was created, this coal tax money was given to them. Later, in 1718, the coal tax became part of the government's general money. However, it was still used to pay for the Commission's important work.