St Margaret Lothbury

St. Margaret Lothbury

Exterior photo of St. Margaret Lothbury
Country United Kingdom
Denomination Anglican
Previous denomination Roman Catholic
Architecture
Architect(s) Sir Christopher Wren
Style Baroque

St. Margaret Lothbury is a Church of England parish church in the City of London; it spans the boundary between Coleman Street Ward and Broad Street Ward. Recorded since the 12th century, the church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt by the office of Sir Christopher Wren. St. Margaret Lothbury still serves as a parish church, as well as being the official church of five Livery Companies, two Ward Clubs and two Professional Institutes. It also has connections with many local finance houses all of whom hold special services each year.

Contents

History

The earliest mention of St Margaret Lothbury is from 1185.[1]

It was rebuilt in 1440, largely at the expense of Lord Mayor Robert Large,[2] who was Lord Mayor that year and is remembered as the Master of whom Caxton served his apprenticeship. It suffered as did so many of London's churches in the Great Fire of London of 1666 and was rebuilt by Christopher Wren from 1686 to 1690.

Interior

The church has exceptionally fine 17th century woodwork from other now-demolished Wren churches.[3] Among the best are the reredos, communion rails and baptismal font, which are thought to be by Grinling Gibbons[4] from St Olave, Old Jewry, and the pulpit from All-Hallows-the-Great.[5] Two paintings of Moses and Aaron flank the high altar, and came from St Christopher le Stocks when it was demolished in 1781. The organ was built by George England in 1801. It was restored in 1984, stands in its original case and contains nearly all its original pipework.

The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ "London:the City Churches” Pevsner,N/Bradley,S New Haven, Yale, 1998 ISBN 0300096550
  2. ^ "The City of London Churches" Betjeman,J Andover, Pikin, 1967 ISBN 0853721122
  3. ^ "The Old Churches of London" Cobb,G: London, Batsford, 1942
  4. ^ "The Visitors Guide to the City of London Churches" Tucker,T: London, Friends of the City Churches, 2006 ISBN 0955394503
  5. ^ "The London Encyclopaedia" Hibbert,C;Weinreb,D;Keay,J: London, Pan Macmillan, 1983 (rev 1993,2008) ISBN 978-1-4050-4924-5
  6. ^ Details from listed building database (199600) . Images of England. English Heritage. accessed 23 January 2009

See also

External links