Building    From 1225  To /12/1940

Christchurch - Greyfriars Church

Categories: Religion

An information board at the site reads: "Christchurch Greyfriars churchyard covers the site of the church of the Franciscan monastery which stood here from about 1228. The original church was demolished in 1306 and a new one built in 1325. This stood until it was demolished by the Great Fire of London in 1666. the church was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren between 1687 and 1707 on the site of the quire of the old building. the churchyard became an open space in 1872, and the church remained until it was gutted by bombs in December 1940."

London Garden Trust says: " This lovely garden is located on the site of the Franciscan Church of Greyfriars, which was established in 1225. Numerous well-known people, including four queens, were buried in the old church, which was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. A new church, designed by Wren, was completed in 1704. In 1940, incendiary bombs destroyed the body of the Wren church, and only the west tower now stands. The 1989 rose garden reflects the floor plan of the original church with box-edged beds representing the original position of the pews. An avenue of trees marks the former nave."

Greyfriars Church was not destroyed in the Reformation, only closed. It was reopened in 1547 as Christ Church and continued in use as a parish church until the Great Fire in 1666.

The Citizens' Memorial is a campaign to partially rebuild this church and transform it into a memorial of national significance to commemorate the heroism and sacrifice of the citizens of London during the Second World War.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Christchurch - Greyfriars Church

Commemorated ati

Charles Lamb - Giltspur Street

Ornamental Passions have a good post on this memorial, saying that Lamb is sh...

Read More

Christchurch - Greyfriars Church

Christchurch - Greyfriars This Wren church was destroyed by fire-bombs in De...

Read More

Christchurch Greyfriars Church

This plaque is on the low wall you can see close to the road.

Read More

Other Subjects

Ebenezer Church

Ebenezer Church

From Exploring Southwark: "The Norwegian Mission Society opened a mission in Rotherhithe in 1868, originally in a temporary church until a permanent building, called the Ebenezer Church, was opened...

Building, Property, Religion

1 memorial
Count la Marche

Count la Marche

Bishop of Leon.

Person, Religion, Spain

1 memorial
Bishop J. B. Lightfoot

Bishop J. B. Lightfoot

Theologian.  Born Liverpool.  Bishop of Durham.  Never married.  Died Bournmouth.

Person, Religion

2 memorials
Sir Francis Lycett

Sir Francis Lycett

Methodist Worthies by George John Stevenson Vol IV, 1885, has a biography which tells the story of the 50 chapels, claiming that he laid the foundations of 40. We find this hard to believe (show us...

Person, Philanthropy, Politics & Administration, Religion

1 memorial
St George's Tufnell Park

St George's Tufnell Park

We are as certain as can be, that this church in Tufnell Park Road is the St George's whose Band of Mercy was the donor of the drinking fountain at Limehouse Station.  Designed by George Truefitt f...

Place, Architecture, Religion

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Bank of England

Bank of England

Londonist have an interesting post about animals at the Bank of England. The Guardian, 16 April 2022, reporting on an exhibition at the Bank of England, informed that the Bank once owned 599 slave...

Group, Commerce, Politics & Administration, Race Issues

1 memorial