“More Chinese than Italian.” That’s how one observer described the tower of St Edmunds Church. This Anglican church stands on Lombard Street. It is dedicated to St Edmund the Martyr. It has a fascinating story to tell.
Let’s step back to 1292. St Edmunds Church was first recorded then. It was called Saint Edmund towards Garcherche. By 1348, it was known as Saint Edmund in Lombardestrete. John Stow called it St Edmund Grass Church in 1598.
The Great Fire of 1666 devastated London. It destroyed the medieval St Edmunds Church. After the fire, the parish joined with St Nicholas Acons. St Nicholas Acons was also destroyed and not rebuilt. Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Edmunds Church. Construction took place from 1670 to 1679. The tower is ornamented with flaming urns. These urns remember the Great Fire. Its orientation is unusual. The altar faces north instead of east.
Joseph Addison, the essayist, married here in 1716.
In 1868, a riot erupted outside St Edmunds Church. Rev. J. L. Lyne, known as “Father Ignatius,” gave sermons. He spoke poorly of Lombard Street traders.
St Edmunds Church was restored in 1864 and 1880. Disaster struck again on July 7, 1917. A German bomb hit St Edmunds Church. It destroyed the roof’s main beam. The church reopened on October 1, 1919 after extensive repairs. Some bomb fragments are kept in the church. Incendiary bombs caused further damage in the 1941 Blitz.
St Edmunds Church became a Grade I listed building in 1950.
Thomas Lyndford served as rector. He was chaplain to George I. Jeremiah Milles also served. He was president of the Society of Antiquaries. Studdert Kennedy took charge after World War One. People called him Woodbine Willie.
Today, St Edmunds Church is part of a combined parish. It includes St Mary Woolnoth and other churches. It is part of the Diocese of London. The Bishop of Islington’s office is here. From 2001 it housed the London Centre for Spirituality. It was later renamed the London Centre for Spiritual Direction. Imprint Church organizes regular worship here since 2019.
Look around. Imagine the bustling activity through the centuries. Picture Wren overseeing the rebuilding. Feel the impact of the World War One bomb. St Edmunds Church stands as a testament to resilience. It is a place of worship and spiritual guidance.