St George in the East Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St George in the East
St George in the East seen from the south
51°30′36″N 0°03′35″W / 51.5100°N 0.0598°W / 51.5100; -0.0598
Location	Cannon Street Road, London, E1
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo-Catholic
History
Dedication	Saint George
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I
Architect(s)	Nicholas Hawksmoor
Style	Classical (with Palladian and Byzantine elements)
Years built	1714–1729
Administration
Parish	St George in the East
Diocese	London
Division	Stepney Episcopal Area (Archdeaconry of Hackney)

St George-in-the-East is an Anglican Church located in the East End of London. It is found on Cannon Street Road, between The Highway and Cable Street. The church is named after Saint George. Behind the church, you can find St George's Gardens, which used to be the church's graveyard.

History of St George-in-the-East
Community Work Today
Gallery
See also

History of St George-in-the-East

Building the Church

St George-in-the-East is one of six churches in London designed by a famous architect named Nicholas Hawksmoor. It was built between 1714 and 1729. The money for its construction came from a special law passed in 1711, which aimed to build fifty new churches. The church's name is also used for the area around it, called a parish. In 1950, the church was given a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.

Times of Trouble

In the 1850s, there were some disagreements within the church. The Bishop of London appointed a new lecturer, but this did not match the views of the church's leader and its members. This led to a period of conflict and disruption during services. Because of these problems, the church had to close for a short time in 1859. The church's leader, who was not well, then handed over his duties to someone else.

World War II Damage and Rebuilding

During The Blitz, a time when London was heavily bombed in World War II, St George-in-the-East was hit by a bomb in May 1941. The inside of the church was completely destroyed by fire. However, the strong outer walls and its unique "pepper-pot" towers remained standing.

After the war, the church was rebuilt. In 1964, a new, modern church interior was built inside the old walls. New apartments were also created under each of the corner towers. At this time, a new set of eight bells was made at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and placed in the church.

Community Work Today

Since May 2015, St George-in-the-East has been working with the Centre for Theology and Community (CTC). This is a charity that has its offices in the church's East Crypt, which is an underground room. Priests who work for CTC now help lead the church services. The second floor of the church is home to the Community of St George. This is a group of Christian volunteers who help with the church's worship and its work in the community.