St. Mary le Bow

St. Mary le Bow

On the north side of Cheapside at No. 56 at the north-west corner of Bow Lane (P.O. Directory). In Cordwainer Ward. The parish extends into Cheap Ward.

Earliest mention found in records: "Ecclesiae Sancta Mariae quae dicitur ad Arcus" (Annales de Margam, p. 5). Date 1091.

Stow says it was built in the reign of William the Conqueror (S. 255–6).

Other forms of name: "St. Mary de Archis," c. 1193 (Anc. Deeds, A. 1513). "St. Mary of Arches," temp. John (ib. A. 2542). "St. Mary de Arch." (temp. H. III. ib. A. 1474). "St. Mary le Bow," 55 H. III. (ib. D. 309). "le clocher des Arches," 56 H. III. (Fr. Chron. p. 11). "Sce Mar' ad Arcub," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 407). "St. Mary atte bowe," 1323 (Ct. H.W. I. 304). "St. Mary atte Bowe," 1335 (ib. 405). "St. Mary atte Boghe," 1343–4 (ib. 472). "Our Lady of the Arches" (nostre dame des Arches), 37 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 150). "Our Lady of the Bow," 1486 (H. MSS. Com. Var. Coll. II. 296). "Our Lady of the Bowe," 1517–18 (Ct. H.W. II. 625).

In 1091 a storm blew the roof off (Ann. de Margam, p. 5).

In 1271 the steeple fell down and killed many people (Ann. Lond. p. 81).

The curfew was rung there, 37 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p. 150).

Repaired and beautified 1620. Burnt in the Fire and rebuilt 1671–80. Archt., Sir C. Wren. Steeple 125 ft. high.

The church has always been famous for its bells, which were replaced after the Fire, but not completed until 1762.

St. Pancras Soper Lane and Allhallows Honey Lane united to this parish after the Fire.

A Rectory. Patron: Archbishop of Canterbury. One of the 13 peculiars in the City belonging to the Archbishop and exempt from the jurisdiction of the Bishop of London. The Court of Arches for these parishes was held in this church until the peculiars were abolished in 1847.

The church possessed from early times the right of sanctuary, and many disputes occurred in the course of its history in connection with this privilege.

The crypt under the church is of Norman work and forms one of its most interesting features. Roman bricks have been used in its construction possibly belonging to some Roman building on or near the sites.

A pavement and temple of Roman work found under the church and a Roman causeway beneath the tower, 4 ft. thick, at a depth of 18 ft. Underneath lay the natural clay (Wren's Parentalia, 265, and Arch. XL.).

Derivation of name: Stow in his first edition says it was called "de arcubus" of the stone arches or bowes on the top of the steeple or bell tower, which arching was as well on the old steeple as on the new (p. 199). The new steeple was finished 1512, the arches being built of stone from Caen.

But in his second edition he has abandoned this derivation, and speaks of it as so-called as being built on arches of stone, and the name may have been given originally to a church or chapel in the crypt (ed. 1603, pp. 255–6 and 258).

There is a church in Exeter called "St. Mary Arches" or "de Arcubus," but no satisfactory derivation of the name is forthcoming from this source. It is a 12th century church, one of the oldest in the City.

In Lincoln the church of St. Peter at Arches is so called from its proximity to the Stone Bow, a gateway with three arches across the high street.

The Parish Church of St. MARY BOW.

At the upper end of Hosiar Lane towards West-Cheap, is the fair Parish Church of S. Mary Bow, called De Arcubus, of the Stone Arches or Bows on the Top of the Steeple, or Bel Tower thereof. Which Arching was as well on the old Steeple, as on the New. For no other Part of the Church seemeth to have been Arched at any time. Yet hath the said Church never been known by any other Name than S. Mary Bow or le Bow. Neither is that Church so called of the Court there kept, but the said Court taketh name of the Place wherein it is kept, and is called The Court of the Arches. But of what Antiquity or Continuation, I cannot declare.

This Church, in the Reign of William the Conquerour, being the first in this City builded on Arches of Stone, was therefore called new Mary Church, or St. Mary de Arcubus, or le Bow, in West Cheaping. As Stratford Bridge, being the first builded (by Matilda, the Queen, Wife to Henry the Ist) with Arches of Stone, was called Stratford le Bow; which Names to the said Church and Bridge, remain till this Day. The Court of the Arches is kept in this Church, and taketh Name of the Place.

The Chancel of this Church was raised, the Church new pewed, throughout repaired and beautified, in the Year of our Lord God, 1620.

Church-wardens.
William Parnel,
William Wallis,

This Church is of Cordwainer street Ward, and for divers Accidents happening there, hath been made more famous than any other Parish Church of the whole City, or Suburbs. First we read, that in the Year 1090, and the third of William Rufus; by tempest of Wind, the Roof of the Church of St. Mary Bow, in Cheape, was overturned: wherewith some Persons were slain; and four of the Rafters, of six and twenty Foot in length, with such Violence were pitched in the Ground of the High street, that scantly four Foot of them remained above Ground. Which were fain to be cut even with the Ground, because they could not be plucked out; for the City of London, was not then paved, but a moorish Ground.

In the Year 1196 William Fitz Osbert, a seditious Traitor, took the Steeple of Bow, and fortified it with Ammunition and Victuals; but it was assaulted, and William, with his Complices, were taken (though not without Boloodshed) for he was forced by Fire and Smoke to forsake the Church; and then being by the Judges condemned, he was by the Heels drawn to the Elmes in Smithfield, and there hanged with Nine of his Fellows. Where, because his Favourers came not to deliver him, he forsook Mary's son, (as he termed Christ our Saviour) and called upon the Devil to help and deliver him. Such was the end of this Deceiver, a Man of an evil Life, a secret Murtherer, a filthy Fornicator, a polluter of Concubines, and (amongst other his detestable Facts) a false Accuser of his elder Brother, who had (in his Youth) brought him up in Learning, and done many Things for his preferment.

In the Year 1271, a great part of the Steeple of Bow fell down, and slew many People, Men and Women. In the Year 1284, the 13th of Edward the Ist, Laurence Ducket, Goldsmith, having grievously wounded one Ralph Crepin, in West Cheape, fled into Bow Church; into the which, (in the Night time) entred certain evil Persons, Friends unto the said Ralph, and slew the said Lawrence, lying in the Steeple, and then hanged him up; placing him so by the Window, as if he had hanged himself, and so was it found by inquisition. For the which Fact, Lawrence Ducket being drawn by the Feet, was buried in a Ditch without the City. But shortly after (by relation of a Boy who lay with the said Lawrence at the time of his Death, and had hid him there for fear) the truth of the matter was disclosed. For the which Cause, Jordan Goodcheape, Ralph Crepin, Gilbert Clarke, and Geffery Clarke, were attainted, and a certain Woman named Alice, that was chief causer of the said Mischief, was burned; and to the number of sixteen Men, were drawn and hanged: Besides others, that being richer, after long imprisonment, were hanged by the Purse.

The Church was interdicted, the Doors and Windows were stopped up with Thorns; but Lawrence was taken up, and honestly buried in the Church-yard.

The Parish Church of St. Mary Bow, by means of incroachment, and building of Houses without, wanting room in their Church-yard, for burial of the dead, John Rotham, or Rodham, Citizen and Taylor, by his Testament, dated the Year 1465. gave to the Parson and Churchwardens there, for ever, a certain Garden in Hosier lane, to be a Church-yard: Which so continued near a hundred Years, but now is builded on, and is a private Man's House. The old Steeple of this Church was by little and little re-edified, and new builded up, at the least so much as was fallen down; many Men giving sums of Money to the furtherance thereof. So that at length, to wit, in the Year 1469, it was ordained by a Common Council, that the Bow Bell should be nightly rung at Nine of the Clock.

Shortly after, John Dunne, * Mercer, by his Testament dated 1472. according to the Trust of Reginald Longdon, gave to the Parson and Churchwardens of St. Mary Bow, two Tenements, with the Appurtenances, since made into one, in Hosier lane; then so called, to the maintenance of Bow Bell: The same to be rung as aforesaid; and other Things to be observed, as by Will appeareth.

This Bell being usually rung somewhat late, as seemed to the young Men, Apprentices, and others in Cheape, they made and set up a Rhime against the Clerk, as followeth.

Clarke of the Bow Bell,
with the yellow Lockes;
For thy late ringing,
thy Head shall have knockes.

Whereunto the Clerk replying, wrote:

Children of Cheape,
hold you all still,
For you shall have the
Bow Bell rung at your will.

The Parish Clerk's Office, belonging to this Church, was to ring the Curfew Bell: As it was to be rung at three other Churches in London, at a pretty distance each from other. That so, at this Notice, all the Curfew Bells in other Parishes, might be rung in due season: Viz. Berkin Church, St. Brides, and St. Giles's without Cripplegate. And if any Parish Clerk rung after the Curfew were rung at these Places, he was to be presented by the Quest of Ward-Mote in every Ward.]

Robert Harding, Goldsmith; one of the Sheriffs 1478, gave to the new Work of that Steeple, Forty Pound. John Haw, Mercer, ten Pound; Dr. Allen, four Pound; Thomas Baldry, four Pound; and others gave other Sums. So that the said Work of the Steeple was finished in the Year 1512. The Arches or Bows thereupon, with the Lanthorns, five in number; to wit, one at each corner, and one on the top, in the middle, upon the Arches, were also afterward finished with Stone, brought from Cane in Normandy; delivered at the Customers Key, for four Shilling six Pence the Tun. William Copland, Taylor, the King's Merchant; and Andrew Fuller, Mercer, being Churchwardens 1515, and 1516. It is said, that this Copland gave the great Bell, which made the fifth in the Ring, and to be called he Bow Bell; and so to be used to be rung nightly at Nine of the Clock. I have also been informed, that this Bell was first rung as a knell, at the burial of the said Copland. It seemeth, that the Lanthorns on the top of this Steeple, were meant to have been glazed, and Lights in them to have been placed Nightly in the Winter; whereby Travellers to the City might have the better sight thereof, and not to miss of their ways.

In this Parish, also, was a Grammar School, by commandment of King Hnery the VIth; which School was (of old time) kept in an House for that purpose, prepared in the Church- yard. But that School being decayed, as others about this City, the School-house was let out for Rent, in the Reign of Henry the VIIIth, for four Shillings the Year; a Cellar belonging to the Parsonage, for two Shillings the Year; and two Vaults under the Church, for fifteen Shillings both.

St. Mary-le-Bow-Church, Cheapside,—between 55 and 56, about the middle of the S. side.

St. Mary-le-Bow, the church of, is situated on the south side of Cheapside, at the corners of Bow-lane and Bow Church-yard. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and derives its addition from being the first church built in London upon arches, then called Bows. It was founded in or before the reign of William the Norman, and was at first called New Mary Church, but afterwards received the epithet of De Arcubus, or Le Bow, in Westcheap.

In 1271 it was much decayed, and many persons were killed and maimed by the fall of the steeple, which was not completely rebuilt till 1469, when the common-council ordered that Bow bell should be rung at nine o'clock every night. Hence the proverb of Bow bell.

The old church was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present edifice erected in it stead by Sir Christopher Wren, in 1671. In that year he began its incomparable spire, which is not only his masterpiece in composition, but stands unrivalled in this class of art, as well for its beauty, as for its ingenious and scientific construction. In 1677 it was finished, and was repaired about the year 1782, by the late Alderman Sir William Staines, since then by Mr. Gwilt, senior, and in 1818 to 1820, by his son, Mr. George Gwilt.

This church is a rectory, and the chief of the thirteen peculiars within the city, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury. After the fire of London, the small parishes of Allhallows, Honey-lane, and St. Pancras, Soper-lane (see those two churches), were united to it by act of parliament. The advowson of Allhallows is in the Grocers' Company, and that of St. Mary-le-Bow and St. Pancras, in the Archbishop of Canterbury, who therefore present by turns the Archbishop having two to the Company's one. The united parishes are rectorial, in the city of London, and in the province of Canterbury The resent rector is the Rev. Anthony Hamilton, Archeacon of Taunton, a Prebendary of Wells, Chaplai in Ordinary to His Majesty, and Rector of Loughton, who was instituted by the Archbishop of Canterbury as his second turn, in 1820. The next turn is in the Grocers' Company.