St Swithin, London Stone
Encyclopedia
St Swithin, London Stone was an Anglican Church situated in Cannon Street
, City of London
. The church gave its name to St Swithin's Lane which runs north from Cannon Street to King William Street.
St Swithin's was founded in the 13th century and dedicated to Saint Swithin. One of the earliest references to the church is as the final resting place of Catrin Glyndwr, wife of rebel Edmund Mortimer
and daughter of Owain Glyndwr
, the legendary Welsh
leader. She was taken hostage when the English captured Harlech Castle in 1409 and incarcerated in the Tower of London
. Catrin Glyndwr died in mysterious circumstances four years later. The only record of her death is in the Exchequer documents of 1413: for expenses and other charges incurred for the burial of the wife of Edmund Mortimer and her daughters, buried within St Swithin's Church London ...£1
The church was rebuilt by Sir John Hind in 1405. One of the 86 churches destroyed in the Great Fire of London
, it was rebuilt to a design by Sir Christopher Wren in 1678 at a cost of £4,687 4s 6d.
In 1798 the London Stone
, from which it was reputed all routes out of the city originally radiated, was relocated within the Church walls where it remained until 1940 when the church was badly damaged in an air raid
during the Second World War. Only the pulpit was saved and now resides at All Hallows by the Tower. It was united with St Stephen Walbrook
in 1954 and sold in 1960.
The church was finally demolished in 1962 and today there is a garden of remembrance where the church once stood and is filled with flowers..Pevsner
found a church mark in nearby Salters’ Hall Court.
Cannon Street
Cannon Street is a road in the south of the City of London. It runs roughly parallel with the River Thames, and about 250 metres north of it. It is the site of the ancient London Stone.-Etymology:...
, 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...
. The church gave its name to St Swithin's Lane which runs north from Cannon Street to King William Street.
St Swithin's was founded in the 13th century and dedicated to Saint Swithin. One of the earliest references to the church is as the final resting place of Catrin Glyndwr, wife of rebel Edmund Mortimer
Edmund Mortimer
-Members of the Marcher family of Mortimer:*Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Wigmore*Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and his second son*Edmund Mortimer, son of the 3rd Earl*Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March...
and daughter of Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, the legendary Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
leader. She was taken hostage when the English captured Harlech Castle in 1409 and incarcerated in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. Catrin Glyndwr died in mysterious circumstances four years later. The only record of her death is in the Exchequer documents of 1413: for expenses and other charges incurred for the burial of the wife of Edmund Mortimer and her daughters, buried within St Swithin's Church London ...£1
The church was rebuilt by Sir John Hind in 1405. One of the 86 churches 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...
, it was rebuilt to a design by Sir Christopher Wren in 1678 at a cost of £4,687 4s 6d.
In 1798 the London Stone
London Stone
The London Stone is a historic stone that is now set within a Portland stone surround and iron grille on Cannon Street, in the City of London.-Features:...
, from which it was reputed all routes out of the city originally radiated, was relocated within the Church walls where it remained until 1940 when the church was badly damaged in an air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
during the Second World War. Only the pulpit was saved and now resides at All Hallows by the Tower. It was united with St Stephen Walbrook
St Stephen Walbrook
St Stephen, Walbrook is a small church in the City of London, part of the Church of England's Diocese of London. It is located in Walbrook, next to the Mansion House, and near to Bank and Monument Underground stations.-History:In the second century A.D...
in 1954 and sold in 1960.
The church was finally demolished in 1962 and today there is a garden of remembrance where the church once stood and is filled with flowers..Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
found a church mark in nearby Salters’ Hall Court.
See also
- List of Christopher Wren churches in London
- List of churches rebuilt after the Great Fire but since demolished