List of Christopher Wren churches in London facts for kids

Tribute to the memory of Sir Christopher Wren by Charles Robert Cockerell, showing an array of Wren's churches from around London imagined together

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.

Churches in the City of London

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.

Survived in original form

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 / 51.5116694; -0.0992722
	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 / 51.5113250; -0.0868917
	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 / 51.5123944; -0.0863000
	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 / 51.5111083; -0.0937611
	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 / 51.5146972; -0.0888667
	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 / 51.5107639; -0.0829833
	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 / 51.5140417; -0.1019417
	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 / 51.5116722; -0.0883472
	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 / 51.51278; -0.09333
	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 / 51.5131944; -0.0854667
	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 / 51.51361; -0.09806
	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 / 51.513250; -0.084583
	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 / 51.5126278; -0.0899194

Substantially altered before the Blitz

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 / 51.5092806; -0.0863361
	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 / 51.510069; -0.08374

Substantially rebuilt after the Blitz

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 / 51.5123444; -0.1013583
	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 / 51.5172500; -0.1067056
	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 / 51.51639; -0.09639
	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 / 51.51389; -0.10583
	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 / 51.5152; -0.0925
	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 / 51.51389; -0.09361
	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 / 51.5111722; -0.0921556
	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 / 51.51194; -0.09667
	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 / 51.5148778; -0.0961333

Tower remaining

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 / 51.5113667; -0.0968889
	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 / 51.5144861; -0.0913056
	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 / 51.5158167; -0.0991472
	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 / 51.5165806; -0.0941528
	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 / 51.5134778; -0.0969444
	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 / 51.5096722; -0.0827222

Stones re-used

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 / 51.5108583; -0.0849556
	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 / 51.5164833; -0.0930722

Demolished due to the Union of Benefices Act (chronological order)

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 / 51.51167; -0.08500
	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 / 51.51361; -0.09000
	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 / 51.51250; -0.09194
	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 / 51.51111; -0.09500
	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 / 51.5131; -0.0951
	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 / 51.51194; -0.08389
	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 / 51.51361; -0.09556
	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 / 51.51250; -0.09750
	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 / 51.5100; -0.0902
	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 / 51.51556; -0.094861

Demolished for other reasons (chronological order)

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 / 51.5141; -0.0886
	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 / 51.51070; -0.087280
	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 / 51.51376; -0.0873
	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 / 51.51389; -0.08611
	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 / 51.516694; -0.09167
	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 / 51.51056; -0.08528

Destroyed in the Blitz

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 / 51.5155; -0.0904
	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 / 51.5123; -0.0952
	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 / 51.51167; -0.08944

Interior refurbished by Christopher Wren

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 / 51.5132000; -0.1104000

Churches built outside the City of London

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 / 51.5124; -0.1323
	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 / 51.513107; -0.113898
	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 / 51.50861; -0.13667
	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 / 51.48639; -0.15778

See also

• List of demolished churches in the City of London