Historic London Churches
St Stephen Walbrook - Westminster Cathedral
An A-Z of historic or architecturally significant churches to visit in London. Note that most are relatively modern. This is due to the horrible destruction of the Great Fire in 1666, which burned some 100 churches in London. So most of the churches you can see today date from the late 17th or early 18th century.
St Stephen Walbrook was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672 to replace a medieval church destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Wren used St Stephen's as a prototype for St Paul's Cathedral, and incorporated a soaring dome to fill the gilded interior with light. Architect Sir John Vanbrugh is buried here.
39 Walbrook,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC4N 8BN
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Used by Wren as a prototype for St Paul's Cathedral
Nearest: Self Catering
St Vedast-alias-Foster is one of the most beautiful churches rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. The interior is furnished with pieces brought from other churches after the Blitz. Among the highlights is a richly carved pulpit and font cover by Grinling Gibbons. The elegant spire is thought to be designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
4 Foster Lane,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC2V 6HH
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Carved pulpit and font cover by Grinling Gibbbons
Nearest: Self Catering
Temple Church is a hidden treasure, tucked away in a maze of alleys and courtyards off Fleet Street, in the heart of Middle Temple. The name tells a lot about its origins; Temple Church was built by the Knights Templar in 1186 and is one of the oldest buildings in London. The church boasts a circular western end, called The Round, where effigies of medieval knights lie in state upon the floor. Temple Church may be better known to modern visitors for its appearance in The Da Vinci Code.
c/o The Master's House, Temple London,
Greater London,
England, EC4Y 7BB
Heritage Rating:
Photos
of Temple Church
Nearest: Self Catering
The 'mother church of world Methodism' was opened by John Wesley in 1778, and Wesley lived in a house in the chapel grounds. There is a Methodist museum in the chapel crypt.
49 City Road,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC1Y 1AU
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: John Wesley's London home for the last 12 years of his life
Nearest: Self Catering
Westminster Abbey is the most important historic church in England. The abbey was begun by Edward the Confessor, who lived just long enough to see it consecrated on December 28, 1065. Edward's tomb is behind the high altar. Just a week after Edward's death, Harold Goodwineson was crowned in the Abbey, and every monarch since then has followed suit (except Edward V and Edward VIII, neither of whom was ever officially crowned). Little of the Confessor's original church remains, beyond the undercroft and the Chamber of the Pyx, because in 1245 Henry III decided to rebuild the whole thing. The crowning architectural addition to the Abbey is Henry VII's amazing chapel, with its intricate fan vaulting. So many famous people are buried at Westminster - monarchs, politicians, scientists, artists, and so many literary giants that Poet's Corner was created.
20 Dean's Yard,
London,
Greater London,
England, SW1P 3PA
Heritage Rating:
Heritage Highlight: Tomb of Edward the Confessor - and Henry VII's amazing chapel
Nearest: Self Catering
The most imposing and most important Catholic church in England, a marvel in multi-coloured brick. Westminster Cathedral (not to be confused with Westminster Abbey!) was designed by John Francis Bentley in extravagant Byzantine style. It was begun in 1895 and finished 8 years later.
42 Francis Street, Victoria London,
Greater London,
England, SW1P 1QW
Heritage Rating:
Nearest: Self Catering