“Stone church.” That’s what “Staining” meant. All Hallows Staining stands as a testament to London’s layered past. We are standing at the junction of Mark Lane and Dunster Court. Just a stone’s throw from Fenchurch Street railway station.
All Hallows Staining’s story began in the late 12th century. It earned its unique name to distinguish it from other wooden All Hallows churches in London. Imagine London. A city of timber buildings. This church bucked the trend.
Centuries passed. All Hallows Staining watched London grow. The Great Fire of 1666 raged through the city. Miraculously the church survived but collapsed just five years later in 1671. Too many burials weakened its foundations.
Undeterred, Londoners rebuilt All Hallows Staining in 1674. But its trials weren’t over. In 1870, the parishes of All Hallows Staining and St Olave Hart Street merged. The decision was made to demolish All Hallows Staining. Only the tower was spared. The demolition’s proceeds funded a new church. This was All Hallows, Bow, in London’s East End.
World War II dealt another blow. Bombs severely damaged St Olave Hart Street in 1941. A temporary church rose on the site of All Hallows Staining. It was named St Olave Mark Lane. The tower of All Hallows Staining served as its chancel.
Today the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers maintains the tower. They built a church hall for St Olave Hart Street on the site. The tower now stands in a small courtyard next to the hall. It earned Grade I listed building status in 1950.
Look closely. You can see Lambe’s Chapel Crypt lies under the yard. It was moved here from Monkswell Street. It was once part of the Hermitage of St James on the Wall. William Lambe, a Clothworkers master, is associated with it. The crypt is also a Grade II listed site.
Princess Elizabeth even donated new bell ropes to the church. She said its bells were music to her ears during her imprisonment at the Tower of London. One of those bells from 1458 is now at Grocers Hall.
The Clothworkers’ Company bought the tower. They pledged to maintain it forever. They have kept their word. The tower still stands. It contrasts with modern London architecture.
Notice the large blocked arches. They show where the tower connected to the church. The tower has crenellations and trefoil windows.
All Hallows Staining stands not just as a relic but as a resilient symbol of London’s enduring spirit. Its stones whisper tales of fire, survival, and rebirth. It is a reminder that even in a city of constant change, echoes of the past remain.