St. Margaret Lothbury

St. Margaret Lothbury

On the north side of Lothbury at No. 6 (P.O. Directory). On the ancient course of Walbrook. In Broad Street and Coleman Street Wards. The parish extends into Cheap Ward.

Earliest mention: "St. Margaret de Lodebure," c. 1197 (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 15).

Other forms: "St. Margaret of Lohdeber," 1241–52. "St. Margaret of Lothebery (Anc. Deeds, A. 10391–2). "St. Margaret de Lodebyre," 1273–4 (Ct. H.W. I. 17). "St. Margaret de Lotheberi," 1282 (ib. 60). "St. Margaret upon Lodingeberi," 1286 (ib. 78). "St. Margaret de Lotheburi," 1288–9 (ib. 86). "St. Margaret de Lodebiri," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 229). "St. Margaret de Lothebiry," 1307 (Ct. H.W. I. 191). "St. Margaret de Lodebury," 1311–12 (ib. 226). "St. Margaret upon Lotheburi," 1312 (ib. 234). "St. Margaret de Lodeburi," 1315 (ib. 256). "St. Margaret de Lothebury," 1335 (ib. 409).

Newly built 1440 (S. 284).

Robert Large, Mayor, gave £120 for ornaments, etc. (ib.).

Repaired and beautified 1621 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 57).

Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt, consecrated 1690.

A Rectory. Patron: Nuns of Barking until the dissolution of the monasteries when it fell to the Crown, in whose hands it has since remained.

The parishes of St. Christopher le Stocks, St. Bartholomew by the Exchange, St. Olave Jewry, St. Martin Pomary, St. Mildred Poultry, and St. Mary Colechurch have been united to it.

St. Margaret's Lothbury Church

It is situated on the N. side of Lothbury, London; the Body of the Church in the Ward of Coleman str. but the Chancel in the Ward of Broad str. being within the Walls of London.

II. It had its Name from St. Margaret the Virgin, a holy Woman, who lived in the City of Antioch in Syria, about Anno 570, and suffered Martyrdom by bing beheaded, and was buried in the said City.

III. I find not when a Church was first built here; but Mr. Stow says, the old Church was built, Anno 1440, and it was repaired and beautified in 1621. And having been demolished by the Conflagration in 1666, it was begun to be re-edified in the Year 1686. and was compleatly finished, Anno 1690. and beautified in 1706.

IV. It is built of fine Stone, with a Steeple consisting of a spacious Tower, on which is a small Dome, and (on that) a Spire. It has a flat Roof leaded over, and on the inside supported with Columns on the S. and Pilasters on the N. side, of the Corinthian Order; and the Chancel is 1 step higher than the Church. ...

VIII. It is a Rectory; the present Incumbent is Dr. John Hancock. The Advowson is in the Lord Chancellor, or Keeper for the time being. Value is per Act 100 l. per Annum, besides Fees and Perquisites, &c. Rated in the Queen's Books 12 l. 5 s. and 10 d. The Lecturer is Mr. Samuel Hillyard. Prayers are Wednesday, Friday, and Holy-days at 11. No Organ.

IX. The Vestry is General, and The Parish-Officers are,

About 12 Auditors of Accounts. 2 Church Wardens, the youngest being Collector. 3 Overseers.

Ward-Officers. 2 Common Council. 4 Inquest. 2 Constables. 2 Scavengers.

X. The Extent of the Parish, is on the N. side of Lothbury from Coleman str. end to Whalebone court, and that Court; also Tokenhouse yard (except the N. end, and two Houses next the NW corner.) And on the S. side of Lothbury, it extends from Mr. Goldsmiths W. to the House now, or late, Mr. Odd'ys, a Turner, Ed. And in Princes str. 7 Houses (with the corner) on the Wly side, and 6 on the Ely. Also Founders court, Drapers court, Catharines court, Greens court, Princes court in Falcon court; containing in all 155 Houses.

The Parish Church of St. MARGARET Lothbury.

Now for the North side of this Lothbury, beginning at the East end thereof: Upon the Water-course of Walbrooke, have ye a proper Parish Church, called St. Margaret. Which seemeth to be newly re-edified and builded, about the Year 1440. For Robert Large gave to the Quire of that Church one hundred and 20 Pounds for Ornaments. More to the Vaulting over the Water-course of Walbrook, by the said Church, for the enlarging thereof, Two Hundred Marks.

And I find it called the Chappel of St. Margarets de Lothberie, in the Reign of Edward II. When in the 15th of that King's Reign, Licence was granted to found a Chauntry there.]

This Church was repaired, and throughout very worthily beautified, at the Cost and Charge of the Parishioners, in the Year of our Lord God, 1621.

Churchwardens. Francis Haddon, John Walker,

St. Margaret's Lothbury. This church received its name from its being dedicated to St. Margaret, a virgin saint of Antioch, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Decius; and the additional appellation of Lothbury is to point out its situation, and distinguish it from the other churches in this city of the same name.

The old church which, was built in 1440, being destroyed by the general conflagration in 1666, the present stone edifice was erected in its room, and completed in 1690. It stands upon the ancient course of Wallbrook, on the north side of Lothbury, and is a plain and neat building. It is sixty-six feet in length, fifty-four in breadth, the height to the roof is thirty-six, and the height of the steeple 140 feet. The body is well enlightened by a row of lofty windows over which the wall is terminated by a balustrade; and the principal door is ornamented with Corinthian columns which support an angular pediment. The tower has large windows in the uppermoft stage, and is terminated a little above by a plain cornice, upon which is raised a small dome that supports a slender spire.

A row of despicable shops was formerly built before this church; but a few years ago they were taken down, and a neat pavement of broad stone has been lately raised the whole length of the church, to which there is an ascent of a few plain steps at each end, and to the principal door; but as this pavement is in some places upwards of two feet above the street, a regard to the safety of the passengers as well as to ornament, ought to have induced the persons who formed this pavement to have secured it by a neat balustrade.

The advowson of this rectory was anciently in the Abbess and Nuns of Barking in Essex; but at the dissolution of their convent it came to the Crown, and the church is still in his Majesty's gift.

The Rector, befides the profits arising from casualties, &c. receives 100l. per annum in lieu of tithes.

St. Margaret's Church, Lothbury,—at the E. end, facing the N. front of the Bank of England.

St. Margaret, Lothbury, the church of, is situated on the north side of Lothbury, opposite the south front of the Bank of England. It derives its name from being dedicated to St. Margaret, a virgin saint of Antioch, who suffered martyrdom in the reign of the Emperor Decius, and its addition from its situation, and to distinguish it from the other churches of the same name in the city.

The ancient church, which was built in 1440, being destroyed by the great fire of 1666, the present stone edifice was erected by Sir Christopher Wren, and finished in 1690. It stands upon the ancient course of Wall-brook, and is a plain substantial building. A door to the tower, decorated with columns, and a pediment of the Corinthian order, is a handsome specimen of Wren's style, pure, tasteful and conformable to the best rules of the art. The interior is also of the Corinthian order, with columns, pilasters and entablatures of excellent proportions. It is sixty-six feet in length, fifty-four in breadth and thirty-six in height, well lighted by a row of lofty windows.

This church is a rectory, the foundation of which is of great antiquity, as appears from John de Haslingfield, who was presented to it by the abbess and convent of Barking, in Essex, on the 16th Aug., 1303. The patronage continued in that convent till the time of the reformation, when being dissolved, it fell to the crown, who gave it up to the Bishop of London, in whom it has continued ever since.

At the time when the church of St. Christopher-le-Stocks was pulled down to make way for the west end of the Bank of England, by Princes-street, that parish was united to it by act of parliament.

The advowson is a rectory in the city, diocese and archdeaconry of London, and in the patronage of the bishop of that see. The present rector is the Rev. J.B. Hollingworth, B.D., Archdeacon of Hunts, and perpetual Curate of St. Botolph, Aldgate, who was instituted in 1814.

Margaret (St.), Lothbury, opposite the north front of the Bank of England, a church in Coleman Street Ward, destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren and consecrated in 1690. The interior is 66 feet long, 54 wide, and 36 high. Observe.—The bowl of the font (attributed to Grinling Gibbons), sculptured with representations of Adam and Eve in Paradise, the return of the dove to the ark, Christ baptized by St. John, and Philip baptizing the Eunuch. The living is a rectory valued at £950. The church serves as well for the parishes of St. Christopher-le-Stock, St. Bartholomew by Exchange, St. Olave Jewry, St. Martin Pomary, St. Mildred Poultry, and St. Mary Colechurch. Here on Tuesday mornings are preached "The Golden Lectures."