St Clement Danes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Clement Danes |
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| Location | City of Westminster, London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic and Ecumenical RAF |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Architect(s) | Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Years built | several, most recently 1682 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
St Clement Danes is a historic Anglican church in London. You can find it near the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. People believe the first church here was built in the 800s by the Danes. The church you see today replaced an older medieval building. It was finished in 1682 by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.
During the Blitz in World War II, the church was badly damaged by bombs. It was restored in 1958. Now, it serves a special role as the central church for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The church might be the one mentioned in the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons". Its bells play that tune every day at 9 am, noon, 3 pm, and 6 pm.
Contents
Church History
Danish Connections
There are a few ideas about how the Danes are linked to this church. One popular idea is that in the 800s, the Danes settled in a village called Aldwych. This was between the City of London and where the Westminster building would later stand. London was a border area between the English and the Danes at that time. The Danes might have built a church in Aldwych. This is why it was known in Latin as Ecclesia Clementes Danorum.
Another idea is that after Alfred the Great pushed the Danes out of London, he made them accept Christianity. Alfred might have then ordered this church to be built. Since Danes were seafarers, they named their church after St Clement. He is the patron saint of sailors.
Other stories suggest that Danes killed in battle were buried near London. A church was then built to remember them. Another idea is that King Harold Harefoot was buried here in 1040. The church might have gotten its name because of his Danish background.
Medieval Church Building
The church was first rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was then rebuilt again later in the Middle Ages. In 1608, a new part of the church, called the chancel, was added. This cost over £1,000. More repairs were done to the tower and other parts of the church in 1618.
After the Great Fire of London in 1666, people tried to fix the steeple. But it was too difficult. So, the whole tower was rebuilt from its foundations. This work was finished in 1669. Soon after, it was decided that the rest of the church was in such bad shape that it needed to be completely rebuilt too. Sir Christopher Wren designed the new church. He worked with Edward Pierce on the beautiful inside decorations.
Wren's Rebuilding in the 1600s
St Clement Danes was rebuilt between 1680 and 1682. Sir Christopher Wren designed it. He kept the old tower but covered it with new stone. The new church was built using Portland Stone. It had a rounded end, called an apse, at the east side.
A tall spire, called a steeple, was added to the tower in 1719 by James Gibbs. Inside, the church has balconies, called galleries, on three sides. These are held up by square pillars. Above the galleries, these pillars become Corinthian columns. They support a rounded ceiling, called a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Wren used a similar design in another church, St James's Church, Piccadilly. Large, round-headed windows on the upper level let in lots of light.
Later Years and World War II
William Webb Ellis, who is often said to have invented Rugby football in 1823, was once a leader (rector) of this church. There is a special plaque to remember him.
In 1844, the St. Clement Danes School was built on land bought by the church. The church was almost completely destroyed by bombs during the Blitz on May 10, 1941. The outside walls, the tower, and the steeple survived. But the inside was burned out. The church's ten bells fell to the ground. They were stored and then recast (melted down and reshaped) after the war.
The Central Church of the Royal Air Force
After World War II, the Royal Air Force (RAF) asked for money to restore the church. It was fully rebuilt under the guidance of Sam Lloyd. In 1958, St Clement Danes Church was officially reopened. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended the ceremony. It became the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.
During the rebuilding, a special message was added under the Royal coat of arms. It says in Latin:
AEDIFICAVIT CHR WREN
AD MDCLXXII
DIRUERUNT AERII BELLI
FULMINA AD MCMXLI
RESTITUIT REGINAE CLASSIS
AERONAUTICA AD MCMLVIII
This means: "Christopher Wren built it 1672. The thunderbolts of aerial warfare destroyed it 1941. The Royal Air Force restored it 1958." (Note: The date 1672 should be 1682).
Church Services Today
The church is known for its excellent Anglican singing tradition. Services are held regularly and are open to everyone. Special services take place to celebrate important RAF events. The Royal Air Force Music Services provides wonderful music. The King's Colour Squadron also attends events. They are responsible for protecting the King's Colour for the Royal Air Force.
- Every April, St Clement Danes celebrates Saint Clement. This is a modern tradition where children receive oranges and lemons. This special service was started in 1919 by Reverend William Pennington-Bickford. He wanted to celebrate the church bells being fixed.
- In 2013, a short service was held for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Her coffin was then moved to a special gun carriage. It traveled along Fleet Street towards St Paul’s Cathedral.
- In 2018, the church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the RAF's founding.
Community of the Cross of Nails
The Central Church of the RAF is part of the Community of the Cross of Nails. This community is based at Coventry Cathedral. Its main goals are to heal past hurts, learn to live with differences, and build a world of fairness and peace. They are guided by the words ‘Father Forgive’. Archbishop Justin Welby said, "The Cross of Nails is a symbol of hope and friendship after conflict."
The Friends of St Clement Danes
The Friends of St Clement Danes is a group that supports the church. Their main patron is Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Their patron is Air Chief Marshall Sir Richard Knighton, who is the Chief of the Air Staff.
Royal Air Force Features
The church has many features that remember people and groups from the RAF.
Statues
Outside the church, you can see statues of two important RAF leaders from World War II. They are Arthur "Bomber" Harris and Hugh Dowding. Both statues were made by the artist Faith Winter. The statue of Sir Arthur Harris was put up in 1992. It caused some discussion at the time. The words on the statue say, "The Nation owes them all an immense debt."
Memorials
The church floor is made of Welsh slate. It has the badges of over 800 RAF groups and squadrons carved into it. Near the entrance, there is a circle of badges from Commonwealth air forces. These surround the RAF badge.
There is a special memorial on the floor for the Polish airmen. They fought to defend the United Kingdom and help free Europe in the Second World War.
The church also holds Books of Remembrance. These books list the names of all RAF personnel who have died while serving. They also include American airmen who died in the UK during World War II. Near the altar, there are plaques with the names of RAF and Commonwealth personnel. These are people who received the highest awards for bravery, like the Victoria Cross and the George Cross.
Burials
King Harold Harefoot is said to be buried here, but there is no specific memorial for him.
There are also memorials for several people connected to the RAF whose ashes are buried in St Clement Danes. These include:
- Sir Archibald McIndoe (1900–1960), a plastic surgeon who helped RAF airmen during World War II.
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder (1890–1967).
- Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Douglas of Kirtleside (1893–1969).
Donations and Artefacts
In the gallery, you can see the Queen's Colours and Standards of active RAF squadrons. These are old flags that have been replaced. You can also see flags from squadrons that no longer exist.
The Pulpits, pews (church benches), and chairs were given by different people. These include past leaders of the RAF, Sir Douglas Bader, and the Guinea Pig Club. The coat of arms of Lord Trenchard is above the main entrance. The lectern (stand for reading) was a gift from the Royal Australian Air Force. The Cross was given by the Air Training Corps. The altar was a gift from the Dutch embassy. The church's font was given by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. It is in the crypt (underground room). The Paschal Candle was a gift from the Royal Belgian Air Force.
The special flag of MRAF Lord Portal of Hungerford was moved here from St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle after he died in 1971.
Organ
The first records of an organ in the church are from 1690. This organ was rebuilt several times over 250 years. But it was destroyed in World War II. A new organ was installed in 1958 by Harrison and Harrison. It is located in the gallery, facing the altar. This organ was a gift from the United States Air Force. Its outer case looks just like the old organ that was destroyed.
Schools
The church started both a primary and a secondary school.
The St Clement Danes CE Primary School was founded in 1700. It is located nearby on Drury Lane in Covent Garden.
A secondary school was first in Holborn (1862–1928). It then moved to Hammersmith (1928–1975). Finally, it moved to Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, in 1975. It is now known as 'St Clement Danes School'.
In Fiction
The statue of Dr Samuel Johnson outside the church comes to life as a character called "Dictionary." This happens in Charlie Fletcher's 2006 children's book, Stoneheart.
The 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four mentions the church. The main character sees a picture of the church from before the war. He only knows the building as a ruin, as it was never rebuilt in the story's future.
Notable People Connected to the Church
- Harold Harefoot, King of England, died in 1040 AD.
- John Layfield, one of the people who translated the King James Version of the Bible. He was Rector from 1602 to 1617.
- Thomas Otway, a playwright, was buried in the churchyard in 1685.
- Pierre Radisson, a French fur trader and explorer, was buried in the churchyard in 1710.
- James Burton, a famous property developer, was married here in 1783.
- Many members of the Twinings tea family were baptised here. This includes social reformer Louisa Twining in 1820.
- James Weddell, who discovered the Weddell Sea in Antarctica, was buried in the churchyard in 1834.
- Katherine de Roet, an ancestor of Tudor and Stuart monarchs, was married here around 1366.
- Margaret Thatcher's funeral procession paused here. Her coffin was moved to a gun carriage before going to St Paul's Cathedral.
- William Ewart Gladstone – a memorial to him stands in front of the church.
Images for kids
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St Clement Danes Church
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Interior of the church
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St Clement Danes ablaze on 10 May 1941
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Statue of Sir Arthur Harris
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Statue of Hugh Dowding
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The Polish Air Forces memorial
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The church organ
