St Mary Aldermary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary |
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| Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary | |
St Mary Aldermary Church view from Queen Victoria Street
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| Location | London, EC4 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Office of Christopher Wren |
| Style | Gothic |
| Years built | 1681 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
St Mary Aldermary is an Anglican church in the City of London, United Kingdom. You can find it on Bow Lane where it meets Watling Street.
This church has a long history, going back to medieval times. It was first rebuilt starting in 1510. This work took a very long time, finally finishing in 1632. Just 33 years later, in 1666, the church was badly damaged by the Great Fire of London.
After the fire, the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren helped rebuild it. Most of Wren's churches in London look very classical. But St Mary Aldermary was rebuilt in a special style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like older medieval churches.
In 1952, the church's role changed. It became a "guild church." This means it serves people who work in the City of London. During weekdays, the main part of the church is a public cafe. Religious services and quiet meditation times are held in the mornings and evenings.
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A Long History
A church has stood on this spot for over 900 years! Its name, "Aldermary," probably means it's the oldest church in the City of London named after the Virgin Mary. Some people also think it means it's older than nearby St Mary Le Bow.
For a long time, the Archbishop of Canterbury was in charge of choosing the priest for St Mary Aldermary.
Building the Church
In 1510, Sir Henry Keeble, who was the Lord Mayor of London, paid for a new church to be built. The church tower was not finished when he died in 1518. But in 1629, money from two gifts helped complete the tower. So, the church building, which started 120 years earlier, was finally finished in just three more years.
Sir Henry Keble was buried under the church. However, his grave was later moved. Two other important people, Sir William Laxton and Sir Tho. Lodge, were buried in his place. Their monuments were put up instead of his.
Many important people were buried in the early church. John Stow wrote about them in his 1598 book, Survey of London. He mentioned Richard Chaucer, who was said to be the father of the famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer. Also, John Milton, a well-known poet, married his third wife here in 1663. The church's records, which show births, deaths, and marriages, go all the way back to 1558. You can find them at the Guildhall Library.
In 1599, a group of citizens started a special daily lecture at a church called St. Antholin's. This church became famous for these talks. When the Great Fire burned down St. Antholin's, the lectures continued. Later, St. Antholin's was torn down, and the lectures moved to St Mary Aldermary.
Rebuilding After the Great Fire
The Great Fire of London in 1666 badly damaged St Mary Aldermary. But parts of its walls and tower survived. Sir Christopher Wren's team rebuilt most of the church in a Gothic style.
A man named Henry Rogers left £5,000 in his will to rebuild a church. His widow agreed to use this money for St Mary's. Some stories say she insisted the new church should look exactly like the old one.
The rebuilt church has a main area called a nave, with aisles on the sides. It has a short chancel, which is the area near the altar. The tower is at the back, on the south-west side. Inside, the main area and aisles are separated by arches. The ceilings are decorated with fancy plasterwork that looks like fan vaulting.
According to Nikolaus Pevsner, a famous expert on buildings, St Mary Aldermary is a very important example of 17th-century Gothic style in London. It is one of the most important Gothic churches from that time in England.
The parish of another church, St Thomas the Apostle, was joined with St Mary's. This was because St Thomas the Apostle was also destroyed in the Great Fire and never rebuilt.
In 1781, a new organ was put in the church. It was built by George England.
Wartime Damage
St Mary Aldermary was damaged again during the London Blitz in the Second World War. German bombs hit the church.
Repairs and Updates
The church has been repaired and updated many times over the years. In 1876–77, big changes were made inside. A wooden screen was added, and the old seats were replaced. The organ was moved, and the floor was redone. New stained glass was put in the windows, and a new reredos (a screen behind the altar) was installed.
On January 4, 1950, the church was given a special status as a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historic building.
The most recent interior repairs finished in April 2005. Workers carefully restored the plaster ceilings and the memorials on the north wall. The Bishop of London held a special service on April 21, 2005, to celebrate the completion of the work.
Current Activities
In January 2010, a group called the Moot Community started using St Mary Aldermary as their home. Moot was a Church of England group that focused on spiritual practices like prayer and meditation. They also valued things like being welcoming and creative.
Today, similar services are held at the church. These include silent meditation on Monday mornings and contemplation sessions on Wednesday evenings.
In 2012, Moot opened a cafe called Host inside the church. It still sells fair trade coffee and other goods.
Since 2007, St Mary Aldermary has been the Regimental Church for the Royal Tank Regiment. This means it has a special connection to this army group.
The church also hosts the Moldovan Orthodox church in London. They call the building St Nicholas.
See also
