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List of churches in the City of London facts for kids

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Aerial view of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral is the largest church building

This article is about the many cathedrals, churches, and chapels you can find in the City of London. These are all places where Christians gather to worship. The list includes churches from different Christian groups, like Anglicans, Catholics, and other Protestant churches.

History of London's Churches

After the Great Fire

Before the terrible Great Fire of London in 1666, the City of London had about 100 churches in a very small area. The fire destroyed 86 of them. But 51 of these, along with St Paul's Cathedral, were rebuilt!

Many people think Sir Christopher Wren designed all these new churches. He was in charge of rebuilding them, but other talented architects like Robert Hooke and Nicholas Hawksmoor also helped a lot. Their designs set a new standard for church buildings in Britain.

Churches Across London

Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile, London, UK - Diliff
The King's Weigh House building in Mayfair is now the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile.

London has a huge number of churches and chapels, and they are all very different. Most of the Anglican churches are in the Diocese of London or Anglican Diocese of Southwark. There are also many Catholic churches.

As London grew in the 1800s, many new churches were built. This included churches for different Protestant groups, not just Anglicans. Today, there are still about 2,000 Anglican churches across London! If you include all Christian churches, they show every style and age of building.

Why These Churches Are Important

Even though many churches were destroyed over time, especially during the Second World War, many important and beautiful buildings still stand. You can find them mostly in the City of London and nearby City of Westminster. Some of these churches are even mentioned in the famous children's nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons!

List of Churches

The City of London is a special area within Greater London. In 1666, it had 96 church areas. Today, 46 churches still hold services in the heart of London. This means there's about one church for every 204 people who live there! However, most people who go to these churches actually live outside the City.

Churches Holding Regular Services

London beim tower all hallows 31.01.2012 13-02-25
All Hallows-by-the-Tower
Church name Location Founded Denomination Notes
All Hallows-by-the-Tower Tower Hill 675 Anglican Rebuilt in the 1400s, but has a doorway from the 600s.
All Hallows-on-the-Wall London Wall C12th Rebuilt in 1767. It's a special "Guild church."
St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Blackfriars C12th Rebuilt in 1695, and again in 1961 after being bombed.
St Andrew, Holborn Holborn C10th Rebuilt in the 1400s, around 1680, and in 1961. Holds services for workers during the week.
St Bartholomew-the-Great West Smithfield C12th Started as a monastery. Rebuilt in the 1800s.
St Bartholomew-the-Less St Bart's Hospital C12th Became a parish church in the 1500s.
St Benet, Paul's Wharf Queenhithe C12th Rebuilt in 1683. Given to Welsh-speaking Anglicans in 1879.
St Botolph, Aldgate Aldgate C11th Rebuilt in the 1500s and again from 1741–1744. Repaired in 1966 after being bombed.
St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Bishopsgate C13th Rebuilt from 1724–1729. Holds services for workers during the week.
St Bride, Fleet Street Fleet Street C7th–10th? Rebuilt in the 1400s, 1675, and 1957 after being bombed.
St Dunstan-in-the-West Farringdon W'out C11th Rebuilt from 1831–1833. Also used by Romanian Orthodox Christians.
St Giles-without-Cripplegate Barbican C11th Rebuilt in 1394.
St Helen, Bishopsgate Bishopsgate C12th Was once part of a nunnery.
St James Garlickhythe Vintry Ward C12th Rebuilt from 1676–1683.
St Katharine Cree Aldgate 1280 Rebuilt from 1628–1630.
St Lawrence Jewry Guildhall C12th Rebuilt from 1670–1687. A "Guild church."
St Magnus-the-Martyr London Bridge C11th Rebuilt from 1671–1687.
St Margaret Lothbury Bank C12th Rebuilt from 1686–1690.
St Margaret Pattens Monument C11th Rebuilt in 1687. A "Guild church."
St Martin within Ludgate Ludgate Hill C12th Rebuilt from 1677–1684. A "Guild church."
St Mary Abchurch Cannon Street C12th Rebuilt from 1681–1686. A "Guild church."
St Mary Aldermary Mansion House C11th Rebuilt in 1681. A "Guild church."
St Mary-at-Hill Billingsgate C12th Rebuilt in 1676.
St Mary-le-Bow Cheapside C11th Rebuilt from 1671–1673. Holds services during the week.
St Mary Woolnoth Bank C12th Rebuilt from 1716–1727.
St Michael, Cornhill Cornhill C12th Rebuilt in 1672.
St Nicholas Cole Abbey Mansion House C12th Rebuilt from 1672–1678. Damaged in 1941, restored in 1962. Services started again in 2016.
St Olave Hart Street Tower Ward C13th Rebuilt around 1450. Restored in 1954.
St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's C7th Rebuilt many times, including after the Great Fire (1669–1697).
St Sepulchre-without-Newgate Holborn Saxon Rebuilt in the 1400s and 1670. It's known as the National Musicians' Church.
St Stephen Walbrook Mansion House Medieval Moved to its current spot in 1439, rebuilt from 1672–1679.
St Vedast-alias-Foster St Paul's C13th Restored from 1695–1701 and in 1962.
Temple Church Inner Temple C12th Originally belonged to the Knights Templar. It's a special Round church.
St Mary Moorfields Moorfields 1820 Roman Catholic Was the main Catholic church in London from 1820–1869. Rebuilt in 1903.
St Botolph's Orthodox Church Bishopsgate Antioch Orthodox Meets inside St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate.
London Romanian Orthodox Ch. Fleet Street 1833 Romanian Orthodox Meets inside St Dunstan-in-the-West.
St Thomas J. S. O. Church Mansion House 1989 Jacobite Syr Orth Meets inside St Mary Aldermary.
St Gregorios Blackfriars Malankara Orthodox Syrian Meets inside St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe.
St Anne's Lutheran Church Billingsgate ? Lutheran Church Meets inside St Mary-at-Hill.
London City Presbyt. Church Aldersgate 1949 Free Church of Scotland Meets inside St Botolph without Aldersgate.
Jewin Welsh Presbyterian Chapel Barbican 1774 Welsh Presbyterian New buildings in 1785, 1823, 1879. Rebuilt in 1960.
City Temple Holborn Viaduct 1640 URC First building on this spot in 1874. Rebuilt in 1958 after being bombed.
Dutch Church, Austin Friars Broad Street 1550 Protestant Church in the Netherlands The building was originally a monastery from the 1200s. Rebuilt from 1950–1954 after being bombed.
London Intl Church of Christ Westminster Intl Church of Christ Their main group meets in City Temple, Holborn Viaduct.
City Gates Church London Wall 1985 Independent Meets inside All Hallows-on-the-Wall.
Christ Church London Blackfriars Independent Meets in the Mermaid Theatre.

Churches No Longer Holding Regular Services

Many churches in the City of London have been demolished or no longer hold regular services. This happened because of events like the Great Fire of London, changes in how people lived, or bombing during the Second World War. For example, Christ Church Greyfriars was mostly destroyed in 1940, and only its tower remains. Other churches, like St Swithin, London Stone, were damaged by bombs and later taken down. Some old church sites are now ruins or used for other purposes, like the St Dunstan-in-the-East gardens.

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