All Hallows, Lombard Street

All Hallows, Lombard Street

On the north side of Lombard Street at No. 48, and west of Gracechurch Street (P.O. Directory). In Langbourne Ward. The parish is in Langbourne, Bishopsgate Within and Bridge Wards.

Earliest mention found in records: 1053.

"Brihtmaer gave at 'Gerschereche' to Xres chereche at Cantwarberi-alre Halgene chereche," after the death of his wife and children. Grant witnessed by Leofstan, portreeve, etc. (Thorpe, Dip. Ang.-Sax. p. 372–3, transcribing MS. Reg. C.C. Cantuar, C. v. fol. 11b. and A. fol. 153b.).

Names and forms of names: "All Hallows towards Gars-chirch," Rich. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2124). "All Hallows Garschirch," temp. John (ib. A. 2215–16). "All Hallows Grascherch" (ib. A. 2228). "All Hallows de Gerschirch," 1278 (Ct. H.W. I. 36). "All Hallows in Lombardstrete," 1505 (ib. II. 610). "All Hallows in Lombardstreete," otherwise called "All Hallows in Gracioustreete," 1599–1600 (ib. 725).

Qy. called "All Hallows, Cornhill" and "Gracechurch" (q.v.). See St. Benet Gracechurch.

Lately new builded 1494—John Warner built the south aisle. Robert Warner his son finished it 1516—Steeple or bell tower finished 1544. Stone porch from the dissolved priory of St. John of Jerusalem, Clerkenwell (S. 203). Repaired and beautified 1622–3 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 155).

Burnt in the Fire; rebuilt 1694 (ib.) by Wren at a cost of just over £8000. Again repaired and beautified 1847, 1870, and 1880.

Wood carving attributed to Grinling Gibbons.

Parishes of St. Benet, Gracechurch, St. Dionis Backchurch, and St. Leonard Eastcheap united to it.

A Rectory. One of the thirteen peculiars belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury in London. Patrons: Dean and Chapter of Canterbury.

"In Lombard Streete is one faire Parish church called Alhallowes Grasse church in Lombard streete, because the Grasse market went down that way" (S. 203).

Allhallows, Lombard Street, or Allhallows Grass Church, a church situated in Ball Alley, with the entrance from Lombard Street, in Langbourne Ward. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, and rebuilt by Sir C. Wren, in a plain and unpretending style, in 1694. It cost £8058; and is 64½ feet long, 52½ wide, and 36 high, with a square tower 105 feet high to the top of the balustrade. Restored 1870 at a great cost. Reopened January 1871. It is united with St. Benet's, Gracechurch Street, and St. Leonard's, Eastcheap, sometimes known as Forechurch, as distinguished from St. Dionis, which is styled Backchurch. The right of presentation belongs to the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. Alexander Barclay, author of The Ship of Fools (d. August 24, 1552), rector of Allhallows, Lombard Street. Here is a monument to Dr. Edward Tyson (d. 1708), the Carus of Garth's Dispensary. On Good Friday about sixty of the younger boys of Christ's Hospital attend at this church, and after the service receive each a new penny and a small packet of almonds and raisins, the bequest of Peter Symonds in the 16th century; from the same fund the rector receives a guinea for preaching the sermon.

Allhallows, Lombard-street, the church of, is situate in Bell-alley, near the north corner of Lombard-street, in the ward of Langbourn. A church stood here dedicated to the same patrons before the year 1053. It is a rectory, and one of the thirteen peculiars within the city, appertaining to the see of Canterbury. The advowson appears to have been anciently in lay hands, as Brithmer, a wealthy citizen, with the approbation of Archbishop Stigand and Dean Goderie, gave it with a messuage adjoining to the cathedral church of Canterbury in the year 1503; by virtue of which donative it still remains in the gift of the dean and chapter of the Metropolitan Church. The present rector is the Rev. Walter Brown, a prebendary of Canterbury, who was instituted in 1810. It is a neat, plain, and like all Sir Christopher Wren's churches, a well proportioned edifice. The body is eighty-four feet in length, fifty-two in breadth and thirty in height.