St Mary-at-Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary-at-Hill |
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Church of St Mary-at-Hill, pictured in 2008, showing the blocked-up Venetian window
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| Location | London, EC3 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic (pre-1536) |
| History | |
| Founded | 1336 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Sir Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary-at-Hill with St Andrew Hubbard, Eastcheap; St George, Botolph Lane; and St Botolph by Billingsgate |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary-at-Hill is an old and important Church of England parish church in the City of London. It sits on Lovat Lane, a charming cobbled street near Eastcheap. The church was first built in the 12th century. It was known as "St Mary de Hull" or "St Mary de la Hulle" back then.
Sadly, a huge fire called the Great Fire of London badly damaged the church in 1666. It was only partly rebuilt after that. Over the years, many changes have been made to it. However, some parts of the original medieval building still remain. Today, its parish includes areas from three other churches that are no longer there. These are St Andrew Hubbard, Eastcheap; St George, Botolph Lane; and St Botolph by Billingsgate. The church is also shared by the St Anne's Lutheran Church community.
You can find the Church of St Mary-at-Hill among some of London's oldest lanes. On St Mary at Hill street, there is a large clock that sticks out into the street. This clock offers a great view of the church's beautiful outside. The church's official address is on Lovat Lane.
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History of St Mary-at-Hill
The church's history goes back to 1336. The north side of the church was rebuilt in the late 1400s. A south side and a tall tower were added a bit later. John Stow, a writer from the 1500s, called it "the fair church of Saint Marie, called on the Hill, because of the ascent from Billingsgate."
The Great Fire and Rebuilding
The Great Fire of London in 1666 started very close by, on Pudding Lane. The fire badly damaged St Mary-at-Hill. After the fire, the church's area was joined with that of St Andrew Hubbard. Their church was not rebuilt.
Sir Christopher Wren, a famous architect, rebuilt the inside of St Mary's and its east end. He was able to keep the medieval walls on the other three sides. He also kept the west tower and added a lantern to it. Wren's design included a special window at the east end, which is now blocked up. His interior design features four large columns that hold up curved ceilings and a central dome. The church is about 96 feet long and 60 feet wide.
Later Changes and Discoveries
Many more changes have happened since the 1600s. In the late 1700s, George Gwilt rebuilt the west wall and tower. In the early 1800s, James Savage added new windows and changed the ceilings. He also added a small dome on top of the main dome. In 1849, old wooden parts were carefully updated by W. Gibbs Rogers.
In 1904, St Mary's parish joined with St George Botolph Lane. St Mary-at-Hill then received many items from St George's, including old sword rests, church plates, and the organ. In 1939, a writer named Dornford Yates used the church as a setting in his book Gale Warning. He called it “St. Ives” in the story.
Surviving Fires and Restoration
The church survived the the Blitz during World War II without damage. However, a fire in 1988 severely damaged it. The roof and ceiling needed to be rebuilt. At first, there was talk of closing the church. But soon, a full restoration was promised. The roof, ceilings, and dome were fixed in 1990–91. Most of the church's old wooden fittings and furniture survived the fire.
John Betjeman, a writer, described the church before the 1988 fire. He said it was "the least spoiled and the most gorgeous interior in the City." He also noted how exciting it was to find it hidden among old alleys and brick walls.
The church was named a Grade I listed building in 1950. This means it is a very important historical building. Next to the church, there is a rectory (a house for the church's priest) built in 1834.
Music and Traditions at St Mary-at-Hill
St Mary-at-Hill has a rich history of music. From 1510, the Chapel Royal choir used to sing here. An organ builder named Mighaell Glocetir worked at the church from 1477 to 1479.
The famous composer Thomas Tallis was the organist at St Mary-at-Hill between 1538 and 1539.
An organ built by William Hill was installed in 1848. It was partly fixed after the 1988 fire. A full restoration of the organ began in 2000. The church is a popular place for concerts and music performances.
Unique Festivals and Ceremonies
The church is known for its Costermongers' Festival, held every October. This festival is also called "Fish Harvest Festival" or "Harvest of the Sea." It is linked to the old fish market at Billingsgate.
Another special ceremony is Beating the Bounds. In this tradition, important people and children walk around the edge of the church's area on Ascension Day. They carry thin rods. In the past, children were lightly whipped at certain points along the route. This tradition mostly stopped in the mid-1800s. However, old records from St Mary-at-Hill show it happened here. For example, in 1682, four shillings were paid for fruit on the day of the "Perambulation." Today, only a few places still do Beating the Bounds, like All Hallows-by-the-Tower and The Queen's Chapel of The Savoy.
Burials at St Mary-at-Hill
In the Victorian era, new burials were stopped in London's churchyards. So, in 1847, the church bought burial rights at West Norwood Cemetery. This small section was just for people from St Mary's parish. It stood out from the rest of the cemetery with its fences and special trees.
Later, the local council bought the main cemetery. They removed the memorials in this section in the early 1990s. However, a court later ruled this was illegal. The court ordered a way to be set up to put the monuments back if family members asked for them.
Notable People Connected to the Church
Many interesting people have been linked to St Mary-at-Hill:
- Richard Beearde, a hymn writer, was the Rector (head priest) from 1560 to 1574.
- Edward Young, a poet known for Night Thoughts, was married here in 1731.
- Sarah Elizabeth Utterson, a translator and author, was born in the parish in 1781.
- John Brand, who studied old things, became Rector in 1784.
- William Turner Alchin, another person who studied old things, was born in the parish in 1790.
- Wilson Carlile, who started the Church Army, was a minister here in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who was the priest-in-charge, also served as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons. In November 2019, she became the Bishop of Dover. She is the first black woman to become a bishop in the Church of England.
See also
