“Benedict” is short for Benedict. This is the patron saint of St Benet Catholic Church. Benedict founded monastic communities in Italy in the 6th century. He stressed study, prayer, worship and manual work.
The history of St Benet Fink goes back much further than this building. The first record appeared in 1216. There is a mention in 1252 of a church of St Benedict Fink by Cornhill. It is possible that there was an older foundation dedicated to St Benedict. A 10th century Saxon gravestone was discovered when the church was demolished in 1846. A spring of fresh water was also found. Freshwater is a sign of new life and God’s blessing.
John Stow said the church dedicated to St Benedict was rebuilt by Robert Finke the elder. It was common to add the benefactor’s name to the church’s name. This distinguished it from other churches dedicated to St Benedict. There were three. St Benet Fink, St Benet Sherehog and St Benet’s, Paul’s Wharf. The Fink family lived in Finch Lane. It is likely the lane was named after the family. In records, the church is referred to as St Benedict Fyngh. There are many variations of the spelling of Fink.
The Parish Priests of St Benet Fink were originally rectors. The wealthy Neville family presented them to the living. In 1440, the right to present a candidate passed to the Hospital of St Anthony. This made the living a perpetual curacy. The parish priest was appointed by the Master and Brethren of St Anthony’s hospital. This was on condition that the hospital erected a Free School in the parish. King Edward IV gave the advowson to the Collegiate Church of St George, Windsor. They retained it until the church was demolished in 1842. St Benet Fink had at least one chantry priest. Their stipend was paid by benefaction so Masses could be said for the repose of their soul in perpetuity. With the reformation, this role ceased.
Records say there were about 300 communicants living in the parish. This means 300 people were eligible to receive the Sacrament. This made the parish very small. The population of the present parish of St Benet Fink is between eight and nine thousand.
The church built by Robert Finke was rectangular. St Benet Fink was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Many churches destroyed were not rebuilt. St Benet Fink was rebuilt perhaps due to George Holman’s donation. He was a Roman Catholic who gave 1000 pounds to rebuild the church. He was given two pews and a place in the vault. Sir Christopher Wren was the architect. The rebuilding was completed in 1675 at the cost of 4129 pounds.
After the Fire, the City appropriated the northwest corner of the church site. This was for widening Threadneedle Street. Wren built a decagonal church. On top sat a dome with a lantern supported by six arches. The church had two aisles spanned by entablatures supporting barrel vaults. Wren may have drawn inspiration from Bernini’s Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome. The walls were built from brick and rubble and faced with Portland Stone. The tower had a square dome and a bell cage. Uniquely for a Wren church, it had a ball and cross. The backs of houses in Sweetings Rents were partly built over the churchyard. These were supported by pillars forming a colonnade.
Richard Baxter, the Puritan Divine and hymn writer, was married in the pre-Fire church in 1662. The parish registers record the death of Thomas Sharrow in 1673. He had fallen into a vault in Paternoster Row and lain undiscovered for 11 days. The parish priest recorded “Let all who read this take heed of drink.”
In 1838, the Royal Exchange burnt down. The Corporation of London petitioned Parliament to demolish the tower of St Benet Fink and appropriate its churchyard. John Carlos protested. The Bishop of London supported the Corporation. The first stage of demolition was in 1842. A new entrance was made in the west wall. This proved unsatisfactory. The Corporation petitioned Parliament to demolish the rest of the church. This was granted and the church was knocked down in 1846.
The parish was combined with St Peter le Poer. Proceeds were used to build St Benet Fink, Tottenham. The paintings of Moses and Aaron are now in the chapel of Emanuel School, Battersea.
In 1904, a mission to this district was established. A Tin Tabernacle opened in 1905, dedicated to St Luke. The current church was built during 1911 and 1912. The Bishop of London called it “the little Cathedral”. The architect was J. S. Alder. The spire houses a single bell. The symbols in the windows are the symbols of the saints and martyrs.
One feature of the church is the organ. It was originally in the church of St Peter-le-Poer. It was modified by “Father” Willis. The oak-boarded barrel roof produces an excellent acoustic.