St Pancras Old Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Pancras Old Church |
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St Pancras Old Church
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Anglo-Catholic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Old St Pancras |
| Deanery | South Camden |
| Archdeaconry | Hampstead |
| Episcopal area | Edmonton |
| Diocese | London |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Pancras Old Church is a historic Church of England parish church in Somers Town, London. It is part of the London Borough of Camden. This church is dedicated to Saint Pancras, who is known as the patron saint of children.
Many people believe it is one of the oldest places of Christian worship in England. The church was mostly rebuilt during the Victorian era. It is important not to confuse it with St Pancras New Church, which is about 860 meters away.
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History of St Pancras Old Church
The church served a very large area called St Pancras. This area stretched from near Oxford Street all the way north to Highgate.
Early Beginnings
Some stories say that people have worshipped here since AD 314. However, it's hard to find old records or archaeological proof for this exact date. Pieces of the building from the medieval period and mentions in the Domesday Book suggest the site was used during the Anglo-Saxon period.
In 1593, a mapmaker named John Norden wrote that St Pancras church looked older than Old St Paul's Cathedral. By the 1700s, many locals thought St Pancras was very ancient, perhaps even the oldest church in England.
Roman Connections
Information signs outside the church today say it is "one of Europe’s most ancient sites of Christian worship." They suggest it might date back to the early 4th century, around 314 AD. A vicar (church leader) from before 1870 claimed to have seen a document in the Vatican Library supporting a 4th-century start.
A local historian, Charles Lee, argued in 1955 that a Roman camp was near the church. He thought the church might be on the site of a Roman Compitum. This was a public meeting and worship place. Lee believed it was changed for Christian worship after religious freedom was allowed in 313 AD.
Anglo-Saxon Times
In 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury to England. Augustine brought relics (holy items) of St Pancras. The first church Augustine built was dedicated to St Pancras in Canterbury. Some traditions say St Pancras Old Church was also started or dedicated by Augustine's mission.
An old altar stone found during 19th-century building work might date to the 6th or 7th century. This suggests the church was founded very early. The original cemetery around the church was round, like many late Saxon cemeteries.
In 1870, local historian Samuel Palmer said the church was "the first Christian place of worship in the county of Middlesex in the eighth or ninth century." Another vicar claimed to have seen a manuscript in the Vatican Library saying the church was built in the 9th century.
Medieval and Tudor Church Building
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When the church was rebuilt in 1847, workers found old Roman tiles in the walls. They also found signs of Anglo-Saxon church activity. The builders realized the church they were replacing was mostly from the late Tudor period, but it included parts of even older buildings.
An architect named Robert Lewis Roumieu said that older Norman columns and other pieces were found inside the walls. This showed that the original church was a Norman building. It had been completely rebuilt later, using parts of the old structure.
In the early Middle Ages, people lived near the old church. But by the 1300s, many people moved north to Kentish Town. This was probably because the area around the church often flooded. Also, Kentish Town had better water sources.
Falling Apart and Being Fixed
After the English Reformation, the church became isolated and run down. It was said that St Pancras was one of the few places where Roman Catholics were allowed to be buried in London. Johann Christian Bach, a son of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach, was buried here.
The church became very old and broken. By the late 1700s, services were held only once a month. A new, bigger church, St Pancras New Church, was built nearby in 1822. The Old Church then became a "chapel of ease," meaning it was a smaller church serving the main parish.
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By 1847, the Old Church was in ruins. However, because more people were moving into the area, it was decided to restore it. The architect Alexander Dick Gough led the changes. The old tower was removed, and the church was made longer. A new tower was built on the south side. The church was made bigger to hold about 500 people.
More repairs happened in 1888 and 1925. After damage from bombs in World War II in 1948, it was repaired again. The building was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building in 1954.
Today's Church
The church has a special connection with the nearby St Pancras Hospital. From 2003 to 2023, it was part of a larger group of churches. In 2007, it celebrated the opening of St Pancras International station. It even twinned with a church in Paris, France. In 2013, a project began to raise money to protect the church and its grounds.
St Pancras Old Church is an Anglo-Catholic church. This means it follows some older traditions of the Church of England.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, you can find the grave of Samuel Cooper. He was a famous painter of miniature portraits. His grave is against the east wall.
Churchyard History
The churchyard is the biggest green space in the area. It has many old trees and was restored in the early 2000s.
The graveyard was a burial place for local people. It was also used by Roman Catholics from all over London. Many French refugees who fled the French Revolution were buried here.
Famous people buried in the churchyard include:
- John William Polidori, who wrote the famous vampire story "The Vampyre."
- Composers Carl Friedrich Abel and Johann Christian Bach.
- The sculptor John Flaxman.
- William Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin.
- A memorial tomb for writers Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin. Their remains are now in Bournemouth.
The architect John Soane designed a tomb for his wife and himself in the churchyard. This tomb is now a Grade I listed building. Some people believe this tomb inspired the design of the famous red telephone boxes in Britain.
The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his future wife Mary Shelley used to meet at Mary Wollstonecraft's grave. They planned their 1814 elopement there. The churchyard is also mentioned in Charles Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities.
Burials in the churchyard stopped in 1854. In the 1860s, the young writer Thomas Hardy helped move graves for the building of St Pancras station. More burials were moved in 2002.
The churchyard reopened in June 1877 as St Pancras Gardens. This was part of a movement to turn old burial grounds into public parks. Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts, a local helper, laid the foundation stone for a memorial sundial she gave.
A new polished marble stone is at the church entrance. It's a gift from poet Jeremy Clarke and sculptor Emily Young. It has a line from Clarke's poem "Praise": "And I am here / in a place / beyond desire or fear."
Famous Names on the Burdett Coutts Memorial
This large monument was put up in 1877. It lists names of people whose gravestones were lost when the churchyard became a public park.
- Tiberius Cavallo, a physicist.
- Chevalier d'Eon, a spy and fencer.
- John Flaxman, a sculptor.
- Pasquale Paoli, a Corsican hero.
- John Walker, who wrote dictionaries.
Other Known Burials
Many other notable people were buried here:
- Carl Friedrich Abel, a composer.
- Johann Christian Bach, a composer.
- William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin.
- Joseph Wall, a former governor.
- Ned Ward, a writer.
- Samuel Webbe, a composer.
- Abraham Woodhead, an academic.
