St Dunstan's, Stepney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney |
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| 51°31′1″N 0°2′30″W / 51.51694°N 0.04167°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Inclusive Anglo Catholic |
| Website | Official website of St Dunstan's: http://www.stdunstanstepney.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Dunstan and All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Stepney |
| Deanery | Tower Hamlets |
| Archdeaconry | Hackney |
| Diocese | Diocese of London |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Dunstan's, Stepney, is an Anglican church in Stepney, London Borough of Tower Hamlets. People have worshipped here for over a thousand years! It is a very old and important building in London's history.
Contents
How Old Is St Dunstan's?
Around the year 952, Dunstan, who was the Bishop of London, built a stone church here. Before that, there was a wooden church on the same spot. When Dunstan became a saint in 1029, the church was renamed St Dunstan and All Saints. This is the name it still has today.
This church is often called "The Mother Church of the East End". This is because its original parish (the area it served) was huge. Over time, as more people moved to the area, many new churches were built. These new churches were like "daughter parishes" of St Dunstan's. Some of the first new churches were in Whitechapel and Bow.
The building you see today is the third church on this site. Most of it was built in the 1400s, but the chancel (the part near the altar) is even older, from about 200 years before that. The church has been repaired and rebuilt many times over the years, especially after a fire in 1901 and damage during wartime. It is now a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important and protected.
What About the Bells?
St Dunstan's has ten bells hanging in its bell tower. These bells were made at the famous Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which was a local company that made bells for hundreds of years.
Seven of the bells were made in 1806. Three others were recast (melted down and made again) in 1952. The heaviest bell weighs about 28¾ hundredweight, which is very heavy! The bells of St Dunstan's are even mentioned in the famous nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can see a special stone seat for priests called a sedilia in the chancel. There's also a very old rood (a cross or crucifix) from the late Anglo-Saxon period. The church has some interesting old items, like a cup and paten (a small plate for bread) from 1559.
The organ in the church was put in place in 1971. It's an older organ that was originally built in 1872 for another church. It replaced an organ that was destroyed in the 1901 fire.
The Churchyard Story
The church is surrounded by a large churchyard, which is almost seven acres in size. In 1658, William Greenhill became the vicar here.
The churchyard was made much bigger in 1665 because of the terrible Great Plague of London. During one 18-month period, 6,583 people died, and 154 were buried in just one day in September 1665.
St Dunstan's has a long connection with the sea. Many sailors were buried here, and it was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas'. A famous person buried here is Roger Crab, who lived in the 1600s and was known for eating only herbs, roots, leaves, grass, and water.
The churchyard stopped being used for burials in 1854. Later, between 1885 and 1887, it was turned into a public garden. This garden was designed by Fanny Wilkinson, a landscape gardener. The gates and railings around the churchyard are also listed as important historical features.
What Happens at St Dunstan's Today?
St Dunstan's is still a busy church today. People from all over the world visit and worship here. There is a lively group of people who help keep the church community going.
The church also has strong links with local schools, including Stepney Greencoat Church of England Primary School and Stepney All Saints School. St Dunstan's even has a Children and Community Worker who helps with activities for kids and the community.
Who Are Some Notable People Connected to St Dunstan's?
Clergy
- William Greenhill (1658–65): He was a nonconformist clergyman and a member of the Westminster Assembly.
Baptisms
- Godscall Paleologue (1694–?): He was the last known heir of the Eastern Roman Empire. He was born in Wapping and baptised at St Dunstan's in 1694.
Burials
- Roger Crab (1621–1680): He promoted Christian vegetarianism and lived as a hermit.
See also
