List of Christopher Wren churches in London


Sir Christopher Wren was 33 years old and near the beginning of his career as an architect when the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many of the city's public buildings, including 88 of its parish churches. Wren's office was commissioned to build 51 replacement churches and St Paul's Cathedral. Many of these buildings survive to this day; others have been substantially altered or rebuilt. Some others were completely or partially destroyed during the German Blitz of 1940–41; yet others were demolished for different reasons.

Churches in the City of London

Many of Wren's churches were demolished as the population of the City of London declined in the 19th century and more were destroyed or damaged during the Blitz.

Survived in original form

Substantially altered before the Blitz

Substantially rebuilt after the Blitz

in 1940–1941 damaged nearly all the churches in the City of London and many were nearly destroyed leaving just the outer walls and tower. However most of them were rebuilt to Wren's original design.
ImageNameLocationDateListingCommentCoordinates
St Andrew-by-the-WardrobeQueen Victoria Street, Castle Baynard, City of London1685–95Grade I rededicated in 1961
St Andrew, HolbornHolborn Viaduct, Farringdon Without, City of London1686–87Grade I re-opened in 1961
St Anne and St AgnesGresham Street, Aldersgate, City of London1676–87Grade I rededicated in 1966
St Bride's ChurchFleet Street, Castle Baynard, City of London1670–84Grade I rededicated in 1957
St Lawrence JewryGresham Street, Cheap, City of London1670–86Grade I restored in 1957
St Mary-le-BowCheapside, Cordwainer, City of London1670–83Grade I reconsecrated in 1964
St Michael Paternoster RoyalCollege Hill, Dowgate, City of London1686–94Grade I restored in 1966–8
St Nicholas Cole AbbeyQueen Victoria Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London1671–81Grade I reconsecrated in 1962
St Vedast Foster LaneFoster Lane, Cheap, City of London1670–97Grade I restored by 1962

Tower remaining

These churches were destroyed in the Blitz or demolished in the 19th century. Only their towers remained with perhaps a short section of the outer wall. They are no longer working churches.
ImageNameLocationDateListingCommentCoordinates
St Mary SomersetUpper Thames Street, Queenhithe, City of London1686–94Grade I Body of the church demolished in 1871. Tower surrounded by small garden
St Olave Old JewryIronmonger Lane, Walbrook, City of London1670–79Grade I Body of the church was demolished in 1887. Tower is part of an office building.
oChrist Church GreyfriarsNewgate Street, Farringdon Within, City of London1677–91Grade I Destroyed in the Blitz. The ruins are a public garden, the tower is private residence
St Alban's, Wood StreetWood Street, Bassishaw, City of London1682–87Grade II Destroyed in the Blitz. The tower is private dwelling
St Augustine Watling StreetWatling Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London1680–87Grade I Destroyed in the Blitz. Tower part of St Paul's Cathedral Choir School
St Dunstan-in-the-EastSt Dunstan's Hill, Billingsgate, City of London1698Grade I Rebuilt in 1817–21, but destroyed in the Blitz. Ruins are a public garden

Stones re-used

Demolished due to the Union of Benefices Act (chronological order)

The population of the City of London declined sharply in the 19th century, and the Union of Benefices Act 1860 reduced the number of parish churches. The surplus churches were demolished.
ImageNameLocationDateCommentCoordinates
St Benet GracechurchGracechurch Street, Bridge, City of London1681–87demolished in 1868
St Mildred, PoultryPoultry, Cheap, City of London1670–77demolished in 1872
St Antholin, Budge RowWatling Street, Cordwainer, City of London1678–84demolished in 1875
St Michael QueenhitheUpper Thames Street, Queenhithe, City of London1676–86demolished in 1876
All Hallows Bread StreetBread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London1681–98demolished in 1878
St Dionis BackchurchFenchurch Street, Langbourn, City of London1670–77demolished in 1878
St Matthew Friday StreetFriday Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London1682–85demolished in 1885
St Mary Magdalen Old Fish StreetOld Change, Castle Baynard, City of London1683–87demolished in 1893
All-Hallows-the-GreatUpper Thames Street, Dowgate, City of London1677–84demolished in 1894
St Michael Wood StreetWood Street, Cripplegate, City of London1670–75demolished in 1897

Demolished for other reasons (chronological order)

Destroyed in the Blitz

These churches were destroyed in the Blitz and their ruins demolished afterwards.
ImageNameLocationDateDemolitionCoordinates
St Stephen Coleman StreetColeman Street, Coleman Street Ward, City of London16771940
St Mildred, Bread StreetBread Street, Bread Street Ward, City of London1677–831941
St Swithin, London StoneCannon Street, Walbrook, City of London16781962

Interior refurbished by Christopher Wren

Churches built outside the City of London

These churches were outside the area of the Great Fire of London.
ImageNameLocationDateListingCommentCoordinates
St Anne's Church, SohoDean Street, Soho, City of Westminster1677–85Grade II The body of the church by Wren and William Talman was destroyed in the Blitz and later totally demolished; the preserved tower was built by S.P. Cockerell in 1801–03
St Clement DanesThe Strand, City of Westminster1680–82Grade I Destroyed in 1941; reconsecrated in 1958 after the Blitz.
St James's Church, PiccadillyPiccadilly, St James's, City of Westminster1676–84Grade I Destroyed in 1940; restored in 1947–54 after the Blitz
Chapel of the Royal Hospital ChelseaRoyal Hospital Road, Chelsea, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea1682–87Grade I Wren designed the rest of the Hospital, as well.