St Benet's traces its history back to the year 1111,[3] when a church was built on the site and dedicated to St Benedict. Over time the name became St. Benet's Paul's Wharf after the hythe where the church was located. To the west of the site was the watergate of Baynard's Castle, which is referenced in the biographies of Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. Both the church and the castle were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666.[4] It was redesigned by the architect Christopher Wren, and reopened in 1683. The builder was Edward Strong the Elder.[5]
The church was narrowly saved from destruction in the late 19th century, when its parish was merged with that of St Nicholas Cole Abbey. After an energetic campaign by its supporters, Queen Victoria in 1879 granted the church to Welsh Anglicans for services. St Benet's continues as London's Metropolitan Welsh church, with its services conducted in the Welsh language, and with English translation provided.[8]
Present dayedit
In 2008 the church was closed for a few months due to a "dwindling congregation"[9] but reopened in time for the carol service in December that year. Services are held weekly on Sunday mornings at 11am, with occasional special services on Sunday afternoons at 3pm.[10] The church can be toured on Thursdays between 11am and 3pm.
The church is of dark red brick, with alternating courses of Portland stone at the corners. The tower is situated to the north-west of the nave and is capped by a small lead dome, lantern and simple short spire.[12]
Interioredit
Interior of St Benet Paul's Wharf
The interior is almost a square. Unusually for a Wren church, the ceiling is flat rather than domed or barrel-vaulted. The north gallery was formerly used by the Doctors' Commons, and is now used by the College of Arms. Most of the original 17th-century furnishings are still intact, including the magnificent altar table, reredos and pulpit, designed by Grinling Gibbons. The lectern and baptismal font are also original.[13]
The galleries are supported by Corinthian columns. There is a memorial to Inigo Jones, who was buried in the previous church,[14] and a medallion bust of Sir Robert Wyseman, a benefactor of St Benet's who died in 1684.[12]
^Christopher Hibbert, Ben Weinreb et al., The London Encyclopaedia, 3rd ed. (London: Pan Macmillan, 2008); ISBN978-1-4050-4924-5
^"The City of London Churches: monuments of another age" Quantrill, E; Quantrill, M p54: London; Quartet; 1975
^"The Survey of Building Sites in London after the Great Fire of 1666" Mills, P/ Oliver, J Vol I pp20-21: Guildhall Library MS. 84 reproduced in facsimile, London, London Topographical Society, 1946
^Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660-1859 by Rupert Gunnis
^Tracy Borman, King's Mistress, Queen's Servant: The Life and Times of Henrietta Howard (London: Vintage, 2010), p. 17.
^"The City Churches" Tabor, M. p66:London; The Swarthmore Press Ltd; 1917
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Benet Paul's Wharf.
Church website
from Friends of the City Churches
360° panorama inside the church
January 01, 1970
benet, paul, wharf, church, benet, paul, wharf, welsh, anglican, church, city, london, england, since, 1556, also, been, official, church, college, arms, which, many, officers, arms, have, been, buried, 1666, destroyed, great, fire, london, after, which, rebui. The Church of St Benet Paul s Wharf is a Welsh Anglican church in the City of London England Since 1556 it has also been the official church of the College of Arms in which many officers of arms have been buried In 1666 it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London after which it was rebuilt and merged with nearby St Peter s The current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren 2 It is one of only four churches in the City of London to escape damage during World War II St Benet Paul s Wharf51 30 42 01 N 0 5 57 38 W 51 5116694 N 0 0992722 W 51 5116694 0 0992722LocationLondon EC4DenominationAnglicanPrevious denominationRoman CatholicismChurchmanshipConservative evangelicalArchitectureHeritage designationGrade I listed buildingArchitect s Christopher Wren possibly Robert Hooke 1 StyleBaroqueCompleted1683SpecificationsHeight115 ft 35 m AdministrationDioceseLondon Contents 1 History 1 1 Present day 2 Exterior 3 Interior 4 Officers of arms buried in the church 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editSt Benet s traces its history back to the year 1111 3 when a church was built on the site and dedicated to St Benedict Over time the name became St Benet s Paul s Wharf after the hythe where the church was located To the west of the site was the watergate of Baynard s Castle which is referenced in the biographies of Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey Both the church and the castle were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 4 It was redesigned by the architect Christopher Wren and reopened in 1683 The builder was Edward Strong the Elder 5 On 2 March 1706 Henrietta Hobart married Charles Howard 9th Earl of Suffolk a captain in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons there Henrietta Howard subsequently became mistress to the future King George II 6 7 The church was narrowly saved from destruction in the late 19th century when its parish was merged with that of St Nicholas Cole Abbey After an energetic campaign by its supporters Queen Victoria in 1879 granted the church to Welsh Anglicans for services St Benet s continues as London s Metropolitan Welsh church with its services conducted in the Welsh language and with English translation provided 8 Present day edit In 2008 the church was closed for a few months due to a dwindling congregation 9 but reopened in time for the carol service in December that year Services are held weekly on Sunday mornings at 11am with occasional special services on Sunday afternoons at 3pm 10 The church can be toured on Thursdays between 11am and 3pm The parish is within the Conservative Evangelical tradition of the Church of England and it has passed resolutions to reject the ordination of women and or female leadership 11 Exterior editThe church is of dark red brick with alternating courses of Portland stone at the corners The tower is situated to the north west of the nave and is capped by a small lead dome lantern and simple short spire 12 Interior edit nbsp Interior of St Benet Paul s Wharf The interior is almost a square Unusually for a Wren church the ceiling is flat rather than domed or barrel vaulted The north gallery was formerly used by the Doctors Commons and is now used by the College of Arms Most of the original 17th century furnishings are still intact including the magnificent altar table reredos and pulpit designed by Grinling Gibbons The lectern and baptismal font are also original 13 The galleries are supported by Corinthian columns There is a memorial to Inigo Jones who was buried in the previous church 14 and a medallion bust of Sir Robert Wyseman a benefactor of St Benet s who died in 1684 12 Officers of arms buried in the church editHon Sir George Rothe Bellew Garter Sir Ralph Bigland Garter Sir Anthony Richard Wagner Garter Sir Gilbert Dethick Garter Sir Henry St George Garter John Riddell Bromhead Walker Clarenceux George Drewry Squibb Norfolk Rodney Onslow Dennys Somerset Major Francis Jones Wales John Philipot Somerset John Charles Brooke Somerset Sir William Cheney KentSee also edit nbsp Christianity portal nbsp London portal Church in Wales The College of Arms List of churches and cathedrals of London List of Christopher Wren churches in LondonReferences edit Bradley Simon Pevsner Nikolaus 1998 London The City Churches reprint ed Penguin Books Christopher Hibbert Ben Weinreb et al The London Encyclopaedia 3rd ed London Pan Macmillan 2008 ISBN 978 1 4050 4924 5 The City of London Churches monuments of another age Quantrill E Quantrill M p54 London Quartet 1975 The Survey of Building Sites in London after the Great Fire of 1666 Mills P Oliver J Vol I pp20 21 Guildhall Library MS 84 reproduced in facsimile London London Topographical Society 1946 Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660 1859 by Rupert Gunnis Tracy Borman King s Mistress Queen s Servant The Life and Times of Henrietta Howard London Vintage 2010 p 17 2 St Benet The Metropolitan Welsh Church Services Retrieved 18 May 2014 Welsh church in London is closed BBC News 18 July 2008 Retrieved 17 May 2015 St Benet The Metropolitan Welsh Church Diary Retrieved 1 September 2016 Newsletter Summer 2018 PDF Bishop of Maidstone August 2018 Retrieved 24 October 2018 a b Weinreb Ben Hibbert Christopher 1992 The London Encyclopaedia reprint ed Macmillan p 717 Bradley Simon Pevsner Nikolaus 1998 London The City Churches reprint ed Penguin Books p 70 The City Churches Tabor M p66 London The Swarthmore Press Ltd 1917External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Benet Paul s Wharf Church website St Benet Paul s Wharf from Friends of the City Churches 360 panorama inside the church Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Benet 27s Paul 27s Wharf amp oldid 1184934632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
