The City of London once had 108 churches – today only 39 of them remain. In 2021, I embarked on a YouTube series to walk between these remaining churches and pick up traces of the numerous lost churches of the City of London, and the few that exist as partial ruins or churchyards. It’s been a magical experience.
Some of the churches date back to the Middle Ages, others contain much older secrets in their foundations and crypts. They link us back into the deep history of London. They link us from the earliest Christian communities in the City through the Anglo-Saxon period, the Norman Conquest to the Great Fire of London when a number of Churches were destroyed. However from the ashes arose the majestic architecture of Sir Christopher Wren who wrote his name across the City.
My most recent episode in the series picked up the trail at St Margaret Pattens (first documented in 1067) with its magnificent Wren spire. Close by we encounter St Mary at Hill ‘London’s best kept secret’ before walking a cobbled lane to the serene garden in the shell of St Dunstan in the East, destroyed in the 1941 during the Blitz. Our walk then takes us past the Monument to the Great Fire which points the way to our final church, St Magnus the Martyr which once occupied one of the most prominent positions in medieval London, aligned with the old London Bridge, linking Southwark to the City.
I’ve now walked 37 of the 39 churches of the City but my church crawling won’t end here. I’ll continue haunting the sites of those lost churches and the indelible mark they’ve left on the streets of the Square Mile.
You can watch the whole series here
Watch my walk along the City of London’s lost river Walbrook.
Hi John,Awesome work and awesome walks.Thank you for keeping the history of all the churches of the City of London alive.
Much appreciated
Kind Regards
Iain
Thanks Iain
Hi John,
I watched the program on Wednesday really enjoyed going back down memory lane! It brought back memories of when I first started work in the city aged 15 (1965) not specifically about churches but about the location. Fish street hill EC3, just at the top opposite Monument tube number 46 was a small shop with offices on 3 floors above. The shop was ship chandlers called CHANDLERS, i worked for a shipping and forwarding company called R.G.Frankis & Co a small firm but some of the best times and memories of my working life.well the point of this message is that every lunch time I would go over to the sandwich shop directly opposite next to tube opening but I cannot for the life of me remember the name of said sandwich shop. If you or any of your many followers can help you would make an old man very happy.
Thanks for all your brilliant work.
Regards Anthony
Thanks for sharing that Anthony – hope somebody comes forward with the answer. If you post the same question in the comments on YouTube you’ll be much more likely to get a reply
Thanks John,
I do so enjoy your videos and I will post my message on YouTube comments.
Again thanks.
Best regards
Anthony
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