Summary : The tower and part of the bombed shell of Wren's church remain, on the site of the chancel of the Franciscan (Greyfriars) church, established 1225 and rebuilt from 1306. It was the second largest church of medieval London at 91 metres by 27 metres. The former nave is marked by an avenue of trees to the west. Following the Dissolution of the Greyfriars, the old chancel was made parochial in 1547, superseding the nearby churches of St Nicholas Shambles and St Audown or Ewin, in connection with the foundation of Christ's Hospital to the north. This moved away in 1902. Wren rebuilt the church in 1677-87, shortening it at the west end. The tower stands forward of the west wall and is one of the finest in London. Above the first cornice, the bell-stage has louvres divided by pilasters, crowned by segmental pediments and a balustrade. Everything above was added 1703-4. The next stage is recessed, also square, ending in an even free-standing colonnade. Twelve big urns on top, from Lord Mottistone's restoration of the shell in 1960, replace those removed in 1814. In front lie fragments of stone pineapples etc. from the old walls, partly demolished for road widening at the east end in 1974. Wren's reuse of the lower stages of the medieval walls and the foundations of the pier base were revealed here in 1976. His west and east walls had the unusual feature of buttresses in line with the aisle colonnades, as he did not fully trust the old foundations. A garden laid out in 1989 fills the truncated shell. Pergolas mark the position of the piers. |
More information : (1) PARISH CHURCH OF CHRIST CHURCH stands on the N. side of Newgate Street. The walls are of coursed rag-stone except part of the E. end, the W. end and the W. tower which, with the dressings, are of Portland stone; the roofs are lead-covered. The church with its W. churchyard represents exactly, in area, the site of the conventual church of the Grey Friars built in 1306-25, but of this building itself no remains are now visible though the bases of the eastern buttresses of the S. wall have been uncovered and some of the original paving survives. This church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1677-91 at a cost of #11,778 9s. 6d; the new church however, only occupies the site of the six eastern bays of the older building with a tower projecting to the W. which was not finished till 1704. The church is a good example of Wren's work, with a handsome tower. Among the fittings the font, pulpit and pavement are noteworthy. (For further details see Inventory). (1) Remains of Christ Church - grade I. (2)
Architectural description in the volume for London of the classic standard work "Buildings of England" series by Niklaus Pevsner. (3)
At time of amending the AMIE record in 2011, online access to the designation (Listing) noted in source 2 above is available through the National Heritage List for England. (4)
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