List of churches destroyed in the Great Fire of London and not rebuilt facts for kids

The City of London once had many churches, each with its own history and community. But a huge event in 1666, called the Great Fire of London, changed the city forever. This terrible fire destroyed a large number of these old churches. While some were rebuilt, many others were not. Instead, their communities joined with nearby churches that survived or were rebuilt. This article tells you about some of the churches that were lost and never rebuilt after the Great Fire.

London's Lost Churches

The Great Fire of London was a massive fire that swept through the city from September 2 to September 5, 1666. It started in a bakery on Pudding Lane and quickly spread because many buildings were made of wood and packed closely together. The fire destroyed thousands of homes, businesses, and, sadly, many of London's historic churches.

Why Churches Were Not Rebuilt

After the Great Fire, London needed to be rebuilt quickly. There were so many churches destroyed that it wasn't possible to rebuild every single one. Also, the city's population had changed, and some areas were no longer as busy as they once were.

To make things simpler and save money, a law called the Rebuilding Act was passed in 1670. This law decided that some church parishes (the areas served by a church) would be combined. This meant that if two churches were destroyed, only one new church might be built to serve both areas. The money saved from not rebuilding every church could then be used for other important rebuilding projects in the city.

Parishes That Joined Together

When a church was not rebuilt, its parish was usually "united" with another nearby parish. This meant that the people from the lost church's area would now attend services at the surviving or rebuilt church. For example, if St. Mary's and St. Peter's were both destroyed, the people from St. Mary's might start going to the new St. Peter's, or vice versa. This helped keep the church community together even though their original building was gone.

Here are some examples of churches that were destroyed and whose parishes were united with others:

• All-Hallows-the-Less on Upper Thames Street joined with St. Michael Paternoster Royal.
• All Hallows Honey Lane near Cheapside united with St Mary-le-Bow.
• Holy Trinity the Less on Knightrider Street joined with St Michael Queenhithe.
• St Andrew Hubbard near Eastcheap united with St Mary-at-Hill.
• St Ann Blackfriars in Blackfriars joined with St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe.
• St Benet Sherehog in Poultry united with St Stephen Walbrook.
• St Botolph Billingsgate on Thames Street joined with St. George Botolph Lane.
• St Faith under St Paul's (which was under Old St. Paul's Cathedral) united with St Augustine Watling Street.
• St Gabriel Fenchurch on Fenchurch Street joined with St Margaret Pattens.
• St Gregory by St Paul's near Old St. Paul's united with St Martin, Ludgate.
• St John the Baptist upon Walbrook near Cannon Street joined with St Antholin, Budge Row.
• St John the Evangelist on Watling Street united with St Mary-le-Bow.
• St John Zachary on Gresham Street joined with St Anne and St Agnes.
• St Laurence Pountney united with St Magnus-the-Martyr.
• St Leonard, Eastcheap united with St Benet Gracechurch.
• St Leonard, Foster Lane united with Christchurch, Newgate Street.
• St Margaret Moses near Cheapside united with St Mildred, Bread Street.
• St Margaret, New Fish Street near London Bridge united with St Magnus, London Bridge.
• St Martin Pomary united with St Margaret Lothbury.
• St Martin Vintry united with St. Michael Paternoster Royal.
• St Mary Bothaw near Cannon Street united with St Swithin's, Cannon Street.
• St Mary Colechurch united with St Mildred, Poultry.
• St Mary Mounthaw united with St Nicholas Cole Abbey.
• St Mary Staining united with Church of St Alban, Wood Street.
• St Mary Woolchurch Haw united with St Mary Woolnoth.
• St. Mary Magdalen Milk Street united with St Lawrence Jewry.
• St Michael-le-Querne united with St Vedast Foster Lane.
• St Nicholas Acons united with St Edmund the King and Martyr.
• St Nicholas Olave united with St Nicholas Cole Abbey.
• St Olave's, Silver Street united with Church of St Alban, Wood Street, London.
• St Pancras, Soper Lane united with St Mary-le-Bow.
• St Peter, Paul's Wharf united with St Benet Paul's Wharf.
• St Peter, Westcheap united with St. Matthew Friday Street.
• St Thomas the Apostle united with St Mary Aldermary, Watling Street.

These lost churches are an important part of London's history. They remind us of the huge impact the Great Fire had and how the city rebuilt itself, adapting and changing over time.

See also

• List of demolished churches in the City of London
• Great Fire of London
• List of Christopher Wren Churches in London

General:

• List of demolished buildings and structures in London