St Peter upon Cornhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Peter upon Cornhill |
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| Location | London, EC3 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholicism |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Years built | 1667 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Helen's Bishopsgate |
| Diocese | London |
St Peter upon Cornhill is an Anglican church in the City of London. It stands on the corner of Cornhill and Gracechurch Street. This church has a very long history, possibly going back to Roman times.
A big fire, called the Great Fire of London, destroyed the church in 1666. It was then rebuilt by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren. Today, St Peter upon Cornhill is part of the St Helen's Bishopsgate parish. It is used for Sunday services, Bible studies, and other church activities.
Contents
Early History of St Peter's Church
Ancient Roman Roots
The church is built on the highest spot in the City of London. It stands right over the remains of a huge Roman building. This building was a basilica, a large public hall, built around 90–120 AD.
Some experts think the church's altar is placed where a Roman pagan shrine might have been. Digs in the 1800s found a special room nearby. This room had fancy floors and walls, suggesting it was important. The church's layout is very similar to the old Roman building. This means it might have used the strong Roman walls for support.
The Legend of King Lucius
There is an old story that says King Lucius founded this church. He was said to be the first Christian king in Britain. The story says he built the church around 179 AD. He dedicated it to St Peter the Apostle. It was even believed to be the main church for an archbishop for many years.
If this story is true, St Peter's would be one of the oldest churches in Britain. It would be as old as another Roman-British church found in Silchester. That church was also built next to a Roman basilica.
Evidence for a Roman Past
The Roman basilica in London was mostly taken down around 300 AD. Its materials were likely used for other buildings. It's not clear if St Peter's church existed then or if the King Lucius story is just a legend. More digging under the church might tell us more.
However, some facts support the idea of a Roman past. London sent a bishop named Restitutus to a big meeting in Arles in 314 AD. This bishop must have had a church base for his Christian community. St Peter's is a possible location for his church. Another large building was found near Tower Hill. It was built later, around 350-400 AD, and might have been a church.
Also, two old writings from the Middle Ages mention the church's Roman beginnings. One book from the late 1100s says King Lucius built St Peter's. In 1417, the Mayor of London also said St Peter's was the first church in London. Since St Paul's Cathedral was founded in 604 AD, this means people in 1417 thought St Peter's was much older.
The King Lucius Plaque
A historian named John Stow wrote in the late 1500s about a special "table" in the church. This table had a message saying King Lucius founded the church in 179 AD. It also said the church was the main one in his kingdom for 400 years.
This original table was lost in the Great Fire of London. But before the fire, many writers copied what it said. After the fire, a new brass plate was made with the same message. You can still see this plate in the church today.
The Medieval Church
Even if the King Lucius story isn't fully true, St Peter's is definitely one of London's oldest churches. The first clear mention of it was around 1038. A bishop left some land to "St. Peter binnon Lunden" (St Peter in London) in his will. In 1156, it was mentioned in a royal document.
By 1226, the church was important enough to have three priests. The first known priest was appointed in 1263. In 1444, a "horsemill" (a mill powered by horses) was given to the church. The church's bells were mentioned in 1552 when a new bell was ordered.
Medieval School and Library
St Peter's was a very important church in medieval London. In 1447, the government decided it should host one of London's four main schools. The other schools were at St Paul's and Westminster cathedrals.
The church also had a valuable old library and a place where books were copied by hand. This was used until about 1548. A rich man named Sir John Crosby left money to fix the library in his will. The library even had a copy of the Bible from 1290. Sadly, this old library is no longer there, and its exact location is unknown.
The Church Building Today
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The medieval church was badly damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Between 1677 and 1684, it was rebuilt by Christopher Wren. The new church cost £5,647 to build. It was made a bit shorter than the old one. This was done to make Gracechurch Street wider.
The church has a grand stone front facing Gracechurch Street. It has five arched windows with tall columns. The other sides are simpler. There are even some small shops from the 1800s squeezed between the church and the street. The church tower is made of brick. It has a dome with a small spire on top. A weather vane shaped like St Peter's key sits at the very top.
Inside, the church has aisles with square pillars. These pillars rest on the foundations of the old medieval church. The main part of the church has a rounded ceiling. The aisles have smaller, rounded ceilings. It's unusual for a Wren church to have a screen separating the main area from the altar. This screen was added because the church leader at the time, William Beveridge, wanted it.
St Peter's used to be the special church for the Royal Tank Regiment. This started in 1954. But since 2007, their regimental church has been St Mary Aldermary.
The church was named a Grade I listed building on January 4, 1950. This means it is a very important historic building. Today, it is used for church staff training, Bible studies, and a youth club.
The writer Charles Dickens mentions the churchyard in his book Our Mutual Friend. A theatre group called The Players of St Peter started at the church in 1946. They performed there until 1987. Now, they perform medieval plays at St Clement Eastcheap every November.
Features and Points of Interest
Music at the Church
In June 1834, a 14-year-old girl named Elizabeth Mounsey became the organist at St Peter's. She played the organ there for 48 years, until 1882. The church's organ has a special display. It shows a signed music quote from a piece by J.S. Bach. Felix Mendelssohn, a famous composer, gave this to Elizabeth Mounsey in 1840. He had just given a surprise performance on the church's organ.
William Jowett
In the 1830s, a well-known missionary named William Jowett was a lecturer at the church.
Burials
- John Waugh (bishop)
Images for kids
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Churchyard seats
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Small garden
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From corner of Cornhill and Gracechurch Street
See also
