thumb|right|The blitzed church in situ in London, 1964

thumb|The rebuilt church and [[National Churchill Museum#Breakthrough|Breakthrough sculpture at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, 2006]]

St Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury is a former parish and church in the City of London first mentioned in the 12th century and destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Rebuilt like many other City of London churches by Christopher Wren, it was again gutted by the Blitz in 1940, leaving only the walls standing. These stones were transported in 1966 to Fulton, Missouri, where they were rebuilt in the grounds of Westminster College and form part of the National Churchill Museum. The site in London near the Guildhall is marked by a garden.

thumb|Inside the rebuilt church

thumb|Park on the former site of the church in London

History

St Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury was established in the early 12th century and first mentioned in 1181. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was rebuilt in Portland stone by Christopher Wren.

In the 1830s, the notable missionary William Jowett was a lecturer at the church.

On 29 December 1940, during the Blitz, the church was again destroyed by fire, together with seven other City of London churches. The gutted walls were left in place for lack of restoration funds after the war. The chief mason, Eris Lytle, said he needed to learn Renaissance craft techniques for the project. the monuments are separately listed.

Burials

Notable burials in the church included the notorious "hanging judge" Judge Jeffreys. Of the interment of Judge Jeffreys, Leigh Hunt wrote:

Also buried in the church were:

  • Edmund Calamy, Presbyterian minister, who was the perpetual curate of St Mary Aldermanbury 1639–1662.
  • Edmund Calamy the Younger, a preacher removed by the Great Ejection
  • Edmund Calamy III, historian and Presbyterian minister
  • Edmund Calamy IV, his son, dissenting minister
  • Henry Condell, actor, member of the King's Men
  • William Damsell, Receiver-General of the Court of Wards and Liveries and a Member of Parliament
  • Thomas Digges, astronomer who is believed to have been the first person to postulate in print that the universe is infinite
  • John Heminges, actor, member of the King's Men
  • James Janeway, Puritan author and minister

Marriage

  • In 1656 the poet John Milton married his second wife, Elizabeth Woodcock, at St Mary's.

See also

  • List of demolished buildings and structures in London
  • List of Christopher Wren churches in London

Footnotes

  • America’s National Churchill Museum | Winston Churchill Museum in Fulton, MO
  • Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury – Churchill Memorial – Fulton, Missouri, at Waymarking