Why was St Andrew Holborn saved from the Great Fire? It was all thanks to a last-minute change in wind direction. Now step closer to discover its long history. St Andrew Holborn stands on the northwestern edge of the City of London. It sits within the Ward of Farringdon Without.
Let’s journey back to Roman times. Excavations in the crypt unearthed Roman pottery. The first written record of St Andrew Holborn dates to 951. A charter of Westminster Abbey refers to it as the old wooden church. It stood on the hill above the River Fleet.
In the Early Middle Ages St Andrew Holborn was known as St Andrew Holburnestrate. Later it was simply St Andrew de Holeburn. In 1348 John Thavie left a considerable estate. This was to support the church forever. In the 15th century the wooden church was replaced. It became a medieval stone building.
The Great Fire of 1666 threatened St Andrew Holborn. But a change in wind direction saved it. However the church was already in poor repair. Christopher Wren rebuilt St Andrew Holborn from the foundations. He created the present crypt. The medieval stone tower received marble cladding. Henry Sacheverell was St Andrew Holborn’s rector from 1713 to 1724. He is buried beneath the altar.
In 1741 Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital nearby. The charity moved to Bloomsbury the following year. St George the Martyr Holborn was built as a chapel of ease. It became a parish church in its own right in 1723.
Writer William Hazlitt married Sarah Stoddart here in 1808. Charles Lamb served as his best man. Mary Lamb was a bridesmaid. Benjamin Disraeli was received into the Christian Church in 1817.
Surgeon William Marsden found a homeless girl on the church steps in 1828. She was suffering from hypothermia. Hospitals refused to help and she died in Marsden’s arms. This inspired him to found the Royal Free Hospital.
The Holborn Valley Improvement Scheme bought the North Churchyard. Many bodies were re-interred. Some went to the crypt. Others went to the City of London Cemetery in Ilford. This made way for the Holborn Viaduct.
As part of the scheme the church received compensation. Samuel Sanders Teulon built a new rectory and courthouse. He incorporated a 17th-century fireplace into the courtroom. It came from the Quest Room.
During the London Blitz the church was bombed in 1941. Only the exterior walls and tower remained. It was decided to restore St Andrew Holborn stone for stone. The church was designated a Grade I listed building in 1950.
Brian Thomas created stained glass and a mural for the church. The mural depicts the Holy Spirit as a dove. In 1955 the Foundling Hospital sold its premises. Items were moved from the Hospital chapel back to St Andrew Holborn. This included the remains of Thomas Coram. The organ casing given by George Frideric Handel was also installed.
St Andrew Holborn re-opened in 1961. It became a non-parochial Guild Church. In 2005 a large icon was installed. In 2010 the Icon Cross became motorised.
St Andrew Holborn has a rich history. It has survived fire bombing and controversy. Today it stands as a testament to resilience and faith. It continues to serve the community. Its story echoes through the centuries. It connects us to the past. It inspires us today.