St Michael Wood Street
Encyclopedia
Described by Stow as a “proper thing” St Michael’s Wood Street in Cripplegate Ward
(one of 25 within the City of London
) was the hurried burial site for the head of King James IV of Scotland
(Huelin, 1996). First mentioned in 1225 (Harben,1919) the church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London
(Reynolds, 1922) and rebuilt after some pressure (Hallows, 1974) by Sir Christopher Wren
in 1673 (Whinney,1971). The organ was built by Elliot in 1800 (Pearce, 1909) . In 1854 the declining residential population lead to proposals to reduce the number of churches within the “Square Mile” (Times, 1854)- a decision the churches vicar had himself proposed (Hume,1853). The church was eventually demolished under the auspices of the Union of Benifices Act (Hibbert) in 1897 (Cobb) and many bodies were disinterred from the churchyard and reburied at Brookwood Cemetery
(Clarke). It was then united with St Alban Wood Street (Norman,1902) and after the destruction of that church in World War II
, St Vedast Foster Lane
(Betjeman, 1972)
The church was on the west side of Wood Street, initially with a frontage on Huggin Lane but later on Wood Street itself.
Cripplegate
Cripplegate was a city gate in the London Wall and a name for the region of the City of London outside the gate. The area was almost entirely destroyed by bombing in World War II and today is the site of the Barbican Estate and Barbican Centre...
(one of 25 within the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
) was the hurried burial site for the head of King James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
(Huelin, 1996). First mentioned in 1225 (Harben,1919) the church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
(Reynolds, 1922) and rebuilt after some pressure (Hallows, 1974) by Sir Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren FRS is one of the most highly acclaimed English architects in history.He used to be accorded responsibility for rebuilding 51 churches in the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666, including his masterpiece, St. Paul's Cathedral, on Ludgate Hill, completed in 1710...
in 1673 (Whinney,1971). The organ was built by Elliot in 1800 (Pearce, 1909) . In 1854 the declining residential population lead to proposals to reduce the number of churches within the “Square Mile” (Times, 1854)- a decision the churches vicar had himself proposed (Hume,1853). The church was eventually demolished under the auspices of the Union of Benifices Act (Hibbert) in 1897 (Cobb) and many bodies were disinterred from the churchyard and reburied at Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in western Europe.-History:...
(Clarke). It was then united with St Alban Wood Street (Norman,1902) and after the destruction of that church in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, St Vedast Foster Lane
St Vedast Foster Lane
Saint Vedast-alias-Foster, a church in Foster Lane, in the City of London, is dedicated to Vedast , a French saint whose cult came to England through contacts with Augustinian clergy.-History:...
(Betjeman, 1972)
The church was on the west side of Wood Street, initially with a frontage on Huggin Lane but later on Wood Street itself.
See also
- List of Christopher Wren churches in London
- List of churches rebuilt after the Great Fire but since demolished