“Pulled down,” they said about St Christopher le Stocks. Its story, however, echoes through London’s financial district. St Christopher le Stocks once stood proudly on Threadneedle Street. Today, let me tell you the story of a church lost to time and progress.
St Christopher le Stocks has medieval origins. Records show its existence as early as 1282. The origin of its name is debated. Some say it refers to the city stocks once nearby. Others believe it’s linked to the Stock Exchange.
Imagine the Great Fire of London in 1666. St Christopher le Stocks suffered severe damage. Yet, its outer walls and tower stood defiant.
Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt St Christopher le Stocks in 1671. It became the first of his rebuilt churches. The rebuilding cost around £2,098.
Edward Hatton described the restored church in 1708. He noted the mix of Gothic and Tuscan styles. Old stone walls were rendered over.
In the 18th century, St Christopher le Stocks measured 72 feet long and 52 feet wide. Its tower reached 80 feet. Inside, a wooden ceiling featured rectangular panels. Carved seraphs adorned each arch’s keystone.
The Bank of England expanded during the 18th century. It bought properties adjoining St Christopher le Stocks. By 1781, the bank reached an agreement to demolish the church. The bank feared rioters would use St Christopher le Stocks to attack. This fear stemmed from the Gordon Riots of 1780.
In 1781, St Christopher le Stocks parish merged with St Margaret Lothbury. The church was demolished the following year. The bank expanded further. By 1800, only 19 houses remained in the parish. This was down from 92 houses in 1732.
The churchyard of St Christopher le Stocks was requisitioned in 1798. Today, it lies beneath the bank’s Garden Court. However, some parish records still exist.
Look closely at the Bank of England’s front wall. A parish boundary mark remains visible. It marks the boundary with St Bartholomew-by-the-Exchange. Another mark exists on the bank’s Princes Street elevation. It marks the boundary with St Margaret Lothbury.
Interestingly, elements of St Christopher le Stocks survive. The pulpit panels from Wren’s 1671 rebuild are now at St Nicholas’s Church in Canewdon, Essex. These panels show fine carving in the Grinling Gibbons style.
In 1867, remains from St Christopher le Stocks were moved to Nunhead Cemetery. Further relocations occurred in the 1930s during bank redevelopment. Among those buried at St Christopher le Stocks was Thomas Harriot. He was the first person to map the Moon’s surface.
St Christopher le Stocks may be gone but its legacy lingers. It is a reminder of London’s ever-changing landscape. It stood for centuries. Then progress swept it away. Yet, we remember St Christopher le Stocks today. We honor its history.