History of The Church

AKA: CHRISTCHURCH GREYFRIARS
Situated: Newgate Street, on the corner with Edward Street. Map here.

Formed in 1547, in the place of the parishes of St Ewin and St Nicholas Shambles which were dissolved by Henry VIII. The church of the former monastery of the Friars Minor, or Grey Friars, became the parish church of the new parish. Burials 1275-c.1540 are recorded in British Library manuscripts.  Destroyed 1666 in the Great Fire, rebuilt by Wren 1677-91,  The Church was gutted in 1940 by German bombs.

The Tower was restored in 1960.

After World War II, the Corporation of London made a decision to garden over many of the bombed-out remains and the rose garden by the tower occupies the site of the Church- it is maintained by the Corporation. Parts of the original walls can still be seen.

View of the Rose Garden taken in early Spring. (Slightly distorted view) In 1954, the church was united with St. Sepulchre, Holborn and there is a second font cover in the West end of the St. Sepulchre church which came from here. It was rescued by a postman from the burning church during the Blitz.