St. Michael Wood Street

St. Michael Wood Street

On the west side of Wood Street, and north side of Huggin Lane. In Cripplegate Ward Within (O.S. 1880).

The parish extends into Farringdon Ward Within.

First mention found in records: "St. Michael of Wood Street," temp. Rich. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2718).

Other forms: "St. Michael de Wudestrate," c. 1225 (H. MSS. Corn. 9th Rep. 21). "St. Michael in Wodestrate," 1279–80 (Ct. H.W. I. 45). "St. Michael Hoggenelane," 7 Ed. I. 1279 (Cal. Ch. Rolls, II. 214). "St. Michael de Hoggenelane," 1282 (Cal. L. Bk. A. 154). "St. Michael de Hoggenelane or de Wodestrate," Deeds temp. H. III. and Ed. I. (H. MSS. Com. 9th Rep. p. 21). "St. Michael in Wodestret near Hoggenelane," 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 33). "St. Michael de Hoggenelane de Wodestrete," 1327 (ib. I. 327).

John Brown by his Will proved 1422 gave to the Rector and parishioners a piece of void ground to enlarge the church and build a steeple (End. Ch. 1903, p. 2).

Repaired 16 Rich. II. and again shortly before Stow wrote (S. 299, 300). Again repaired and beautified 1620.

New door made 1627 into Wood Street, opened previously into Huggin Lane (Strype ed. 1720, I. iii. 80).

Burnt in the Fire 1666 and rebuilt 1673. Renovated 1830–1 and 1888.

Parish of St. Mary Staining united to it (ib. 91).

Taken down 1894 and the parish united to St. Alban Wood Street.

Site of St. Michael's now occupied by a Bank.

A Rectory. Patrons: Abbot of St. Albans until temp. H. VIII. when, upon the dissolution of the monasteries, it passed into the hands of the Crown and thence in course of time to the parishioners.

St. Michael Woodstreet Church.

It is situate on the W. side of Great Wood str. in the Ward of Cripplegate, within the Walls of London: To which is united by Act of Parliament the Parish of St. Mary Staining, which is in the Wards of Aldersgate, Farendon within, and Cripplegate.

II. It is so called, as being dedicated to the Archangel, as is said under St. Michael Cornhill; and also from its Situation, as St. Mary Staining is from its Dedication, and Situation near Staining lane before the Fire. See Staining lane, Sect. the 1st.

III. The only Proofs I find of the Antiquity of its Foundation, are, That John Ive, Minister of this Church, John Forster, Goldsmith, and Peter Fikeldon, Taylor, gave 2 Messuages, with Shops and other Edifices in this str. and Ladle lane, to the Reparation of this Church, Chancel, and other Works of Charity this was in the Year 1392; and it requiring Repair 315 Years ago, is an Argument that its Foundation was many Years before. The same Year (Stow says also) the Monument of William Bambrough, in this Church, was dated; and William Turner was buried here, Anno 1400. …

X. St. Michael's Parish contains: in Woodstr. from Goldstr to the Cradle on the W. side; and from within 1 House of the Castle inn, Sd, 1 House beyond the Castle Tavern on the E. side of that str. also Friar alley to the steps, and 1 House below them. In Lad lane the 3 Tun Tavern on the S. and from Woodstr. to Mr. Smith's the Plummer, on the N. side that Lane inclusive. And in Maiden lane, from Woodstr. to 1 House beyond Flying horse court, and to the Queen's head on the S. side. Also Huggin alley, except 4 Houses next Gutter alley; and also Shovel alley and Paul's court, containing 89 Houses.

St. Mary Staining Parish contains all Oat lane, and on the E. side of Noble str. 4 Houses, and Coachmakers hall Nd from Oat lane, and Sd the Bell Ale-house, and Pump alley; and on the W. side Noble str. 7 Houses, i.e. from Mr. Johnson's to Mr. Blake's inclusive. All the E. side of Staining lane, and on the W. side, from the corner of Oat lane Sd to Mr. Cookes inclusive; and on the N. side Maiden lane 4 Houses Ed from Staining lane, and in Lillipot lane 3 Houses on the S. side, and 3 on the N. next to Staining lane; in the whole Parish 45 Houses.

St. Michael Woodstreet Church, seated at the corner of Huggen lane, against Lad lane, a good handsome Free stone Building, since its being burnt in the Fire of London, and built again. To which Church, is now united the Parish of St. Mary Staining, having lost its Church by that Fire.

St. Michael's Wood Street, is seated on the west side of Wood street, in Cripplegate ward. An old church, dedicated to the same patron, stood there in the year 1392, and probably another succeeded it towards the close of the fifteenth century; however, in 1666 the church then standing was destroyed by the fire of London, and the present structure, which rose in its place, was finished a few years after, and the parish of St. Mary Staining united to it.

As the east end of this edifice is the most conspicuous part, it is ornamented with four Ionic columns raised upon a continued pedestal, with arches between, and supporting a handsome pediment, in the middle of which is a circular window. Between the columns are three upright arched windows, that fill the whole space. The rest of the body is plain, and the windows are raised so high that the doors open under them.

The tower consists of three plain stages with large windows, from the uppermost of which rises a small square course, the foundation of the base of the turret. This base is cut away from the breadth of the tower gradually to the diameter of the turret, which is plain, but handsome; and from its top rises a ball that supports the fane.

The patronage of this church was in the Abbot and Convent of St. Alban's till the suppression of that monastery, when Henry VIII. sold it to William Barwell, who in the year 1588, conveyed it to several persons in trust for the parish, in which it still continues. The Rector, besides his other profits, receives 100 l. a year in lieu of tithes.

St. Michael's Church, Wood-Street, Cheapside,—about eighteen or twenty doors on the L. from 122, Cheapside.

St. Michael Wood-Street, the church of, is situated on the west side of Wood-street, Cheapside. The original church is of some antiquity, as John de Eppewell is recorded to have been rector in 1328. The old church was destroyed in the common conflagration of 1666, and the present church was erected a few years after from the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. The neighbouring church of St. Mary Staining was also destroyed at the same time, and the parish was united to this by act of parliament. The eastern end of this church is ornamented with four Ionic columns raised upon a stylobate, with arches between, and a well-proportioned pediment above, and in the middle of the centre intercolumniation is a circular window over the altar.

The patronage of this rectory was anciently in the abbot and convent of St. Albans, till the suppression of the religious houses by VIII., who sold it to William Barewll, who in 1559 conveyed it to trustees for the parishioners, in whom it still remains. After the fire of London, the adjacent parish of St. Mary Staining was united to it by act of parliament; the patronage of which devolving to the crown, after the reformation, it is now in the gift of the Lord Chancellor, and the united rectory is presented to to alternately by his lordship and the parishioners. The united parishes are now a rectory in the city, diocese, and archdeaconry of London, and in the before-mentioned patronage. The present rector is the Rev. J.A. Busfield, D.D., who was instituted by the parishioners in 1821.

Michael's (St.), Wood Street, at the Corner of Huggin Lane, a church in Cripplegate Ward, destroyed in the Great Fire, and rebuilt under Sir C. Wren in 1673. It is of stone, with a porch and four windows on the south; the north side is unlighted. At the east end four Ionic columns support a pediment, beneath which is a circular window. The tower, 130 feet high, is crowned by a mean spire, a modern substitute for the turret of Wren's erection. The interior is 62 feet long, 40 wide and 30 high. It serves also for the parish of St. Mary Staining. The head of James IV. of Scotland was, it is said, buried in this church; but whether the head so buried was really that of the Scottish King is very doubtful.

There is also (but without any outward monument) the head of James, the fourth King of Scots of that name, slain at Flodden Field, and buried here by this occasion: after the battle the body of the said King being found, was enclosed in lead, and conveyed from thence to London, and so to the Monastery of Shene in Surrey, where it remained for a time, in what order I am not certain; but since the dissolution of that house in the reign of Edward VI., Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, being lodged and keeping house there, I have been shewn the same body so lapped in lead, close to the head and body, thrown into a waste room amongst the old timber, lead, and other rubble. Since the which time, workmen there, for their foolish pleasure, hewed off his head; and Launcelot Young, master glazier to her Majesty, feeling a sweet savour to come from thence, and seeing the same dried from all moisture, and yet the form remaining, with the hair of the head, and beard red, brought it to London to his house in Wood Street, where for a time he kept it for the sweetness, but in the end caused the sexton of that church to bury it amongst other bones taken out of their charnel, etc.—Stow, p. 112.

The church was renovated in 1888 when the high pews were abolished.