City and Diocese of London.
The Lord Mayor's parish church of St. Stephen Walbrook.
A Saxon church was built about the 7th century, probably on foundations (preserved in Queen Victoria Street) of 3rd century Mithras temple. Patron in 1096 was Eudo, Dapifer to Henry I. A bigger, Gothic church, built 1439, destroyed 1666 in Great Fire. Present church, Wren's smaller masterpiece, built 1672-9, damaged by bombing 1941, rededicated 1954, further restored 1978-87, re-dedicated 1987 with altar by Henry Moore. Birthplace in 1953 of "The Samaritans - to befriend the suicidal and despairing" and in 1974 of "Befrienders International". "The most perfectly proportioned interior in the world" may be visited on Monday to Friday 9 to 4.
Sung Eucharist: Thursdays 12.45.
Organ recital: Fridays 12.30.
Chad Varah: Rector
The Lord Mayor and Lord Palumbo: Churchwardens.
Site: St Stephen Walbrook (3 memorials)
EC4, Walbrook, 39, St Stephen Walbrook church
The blue plaque is below the Palladian window to the left of our photo. Before 2011 the square blue plaque was where the red information board now is, beside the doorway. The stone inscription is just inside that doorway, on the left hand side of the porch.
This church was originally further to the west. It was rebuilt on this site and consecrated in 1439. That church was lost in the Great Fire of 1666. The present building was constructed 1672-9 to a design by Sir Christopher Wren.
London Historians blog has some photos of the inside, including the original telephone used by the Samaritans.
