St Michael, Crooked Lane
| St Michael, Crooked Lane | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | Miles' Lane,London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Demolished | 1831 |
St Michael, Crooked Lane,was an ancient parish church situated on the east side of Miles's Lane[1]inCandlewick wardin theCity of London.[2]It was rebuilt after theGreat Fire of Londonby SirChristopher Wren,and demolished in 1831.
History[edit]
The church was in existence by 1304. It was originally a small church, standing amongst the slaughter-yards of the butchers ofEastcheap.In 1336, it was rebuilt on a much larger scale byJohn Lovekyn,four-timesLord Mayor of London;later it received further benefactions from SirWilliam Walworth,who was Lord Mayor in 1374.[1]The patronage of the church belonged first to the prior and convent ofChrist Church, Canterburyuntil 1408, and later to theArchbishop of Canterbury,becoming one of 13 peculiarities in the City of London belonging to him.[1][3]
It was in the parish that the first cases ofThe Plagueoccurred in 1665.[4]
After its destruction in theGreat Fire of London,the church was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687. The interior of the new church was 78 feet long, 46 feet wide and 32 feet high, with round-headed windows.[1]James Peller Malcolmcalled Wren's church "so plain as to be indescribable", noting only the Corinthianreredos,"the usual tablets" and the lack of an organ.[3]There was aPortland stonetower, about 100 feet high, topped with a perforated parapet, with vases at its angles, and a spire—described byJames Elmesas "remarkably picturesque" —with clock, weather-vane and cross.[1]
In 1789, Thomas Townsend left a house and funds to theMerchant Taylors Companyto endow a weekly lecture and a clerical post at the church. His widow Susannah (d. 1810) left further funds to support this work. In 1831, the bequest was transferred to the church ofSt Magnus the Martyr.[5]
The church was demolished in 1831[6]to make way for the wider approaches needed for the rebuiltLondon Bridge.[7]Its parish was united with that ofSt Magnus the Martyr.The final service on Sunday 20 March 1831 had to be abandoned due to the effects of the building work. The Rector of St Michael preached a sermon the following Sunday at St Magnus lamenting the demolition of his church with its monuments and "the disturbance of the worship of his parishioners on the preceding Sabbath".[8]A stained-glass window in the church of St Magnus commemorates the former parish. Some of the monuments in the demolished church are now located inSt Mark's Church, Kennington.[9]
Part of the burial ground of St Michael, located between Fish Street Hill andKing William Street,survived as an open space until 1987 when it was compulsorily purchased to facilitate the extension of theDocklands Light Railwayinto theCity.[10]The remains were reburied atBrookwood Cemetery.[11]
Washington Irvinggave a long description of the church inThe Sketch Book(published in 1819), in the chapter entitled "The Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap". In searching for any remnants of Shakespeare'sFalstaff,Irving hears about a picture ofthe original tavernin St Michael's Church, but to no avail.
See also[edit]
- List of Christopher Wren churches in London
- List of churches rebuilt after the Great Fire but since demolished
References[edit]
- ^abcde Elmes, James (1831).A Topographical Dictionary of London and its Environs.London: Whittaker, Treacher and Arnot. p. 303.Retrieved24 September2011.
- ^Candlewick Ward History
- ^abMalcolm, James Peller (1807).Londinium Redivivium, or, an Ancient History and Modern Description of London.Vol. 4. London. pp. 506–8.
- ^Samuel Pepys's Diary:April 30, 1665 (Dover, Lewis Publications 1992)ISBN978-0-486-43667-8
- ^Clode, C M."Memorial CXVII: Townsend's Lectureship Pages 363-364 Memorials of the Guild of Merchant Taylors of the Fraternity of St. John the Baptist in the City of London. Originally published by Harrison, London, 1875".British History Online.Retrieved16 August2020.
- ^"The London Encyclopaedia" Hibbert, C; Weinreb, D; Keay,J: London, Pan Macmillan, 1983 (rev 1993,2008)ISBN978-1-4050-4924-5
- ^The Church Of St. Michael, Crooked LaneCorrespondent not citedThe Times,Thursday, Apr 07, 1831; pg. 3; Issue 14507; col F
- ^The year book of daily recreation and information,Hone, William: London, 1832
- ^"Monuments of St Mark's Kennington".speel.me.uk.Retrieved18 July2020.
- ^London Docklands Railway (City Extension) Act 1986 c. xxiii and Pastoral Scheme made by the Church Commissioners dated 9 April 1987. SeeMonument StationandLondon Transport Museum
- ^Foxes have holes – A personal memoir of St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge from 1984 to 1995,Woodgate, M.: Catholic League, 2005