St Lawrence

The church is a beautiful example of Wren’s architecture. St Lawrence Jewry stands proudly on Gresham Street, right next to the Guildhall. It’s a grand building with a rich history. St Lawrence Jewry is a church of England guild church, and it’s important to know that it’s not just any ordinary church. It was the official church of the Lord Mayor of London. The first church was built in the 12th century and dedicated to Saint Lawrence, and the present church is a reconstruction built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The medieval church was destroyed in the fire, and it was rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren, between 1670 and 1677. If you look up, you’ll see that the weathervane on the top of the church is in the form of a gridiron, Saint Lawrence’s instrument of martyrdom. One of the oddest things about the church is that the church register of baptisms did not burn in the bombing. It was made of vellum, so the heat made it shrink rather than burn. You can see the shrunk vellum on display in the church. St Lawrence Jewry is now designated a Grade I listed building, and that’s a testament to its historical significance. It has a ring of eight bells, hung for change ringing, and cast in 1957 by Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The church is regularly open weekdays and for special events, such as an annual music festival in August offering daily lunchtime concerts. It’s well worth a visit, especially if you’re already visiting the nearby Guildhall, its excellent art gallery, and the Roman amphitheatre discovered under Guildhall Yard. Take some time to explore these and admire the history of St Lawrence Jewry.