St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe |
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Exterior photo of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe
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| Location | London, EC4 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Sir Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe is an old Church of England church. It is located on Queen Victoria Street, London in the City of London. You can find it close to Blackfriars station.
Contents
History of St Andrew's Church
This church has a very long history. It was first mentioned around the year 1170. It was likely built even earlier than that.
The Royal Wardrobe Connection
In the 1200s, the church was part of Baynard's Castle. This was an old royal home. In 1361, King Edward III moved his "Royal Wardrobe" nearby. This "Wardrobe" was a special storehouse. It held royal items like weapons and clothes. Because the church was so close to this Royal Wardrobe, it got its unique name.
Fires and Rebuilding
Sadly, both the Wardrobe building and the church were destroyed. This happened during the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the fire, Sir Christopher Wren designed many new churches. St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe was one of them. It was built in 1695.
The church was badly damaged again during World War II. This happened during the London blitz when German planes bombed London. Only the tower and walls were left standing. The church was rebuilt and opened again in 1961.
The Church Today
Today, the church has a special arrangement. It does not allow women to become priests. Because of this, it gets guidance from a special bishop. This bishop is called the Bishop of Fulham.
The Church Building
St Andrew's church sits on a raised area. It looks out over the street. Its simple red-brick outside looks different from the stone buildings next to it.
Much of the church's inside was destroyed during the war. So, many parts of the church came from other churches. These other churches were also destroyed by bombs. For example, the weathervane on the steeple came from a church called St Michael Bassishaw. The pulpit, which is where the priest gives sermons, came from St Matthew, Friday Street. The font, used for baptisms, also came from there.
You can also see some old royal symbols inside. These are from the House of Stuart. They came from another church called St Olave Old Jewry.
There is a statue of St Andrew from around 1600. It stands on the north side of the church. There is also a special statue of Saint Anne. She is shown holding the Virgin Mary, who is holding the Christ child. This statue is likely from Italy and is about 500 years old.
William Shakespeare's Connection
The famous writer William Shakespeare lived nearby. He was part of this church's community for about 15 years. He worked at the Blackfriars Theatre close by. Later, he even bought a house in the area. To honor him, a special memorial was placed in the church.
The church is also used by the Indian Orthodox Church. They hold regular Sunday services there.
The church is a very important historical building. It was named a Grade I listed building in 1950. This means it is protected.
Notable Clergy
- Luke Miller has been the main priest, or rector, since 2016.
Images for kids
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The inside of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe
See also
