St Dunstan-in-the-East

St Dunstan in the East

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St Dunstan-in-the-East

St Dunstan-in-the-East was an Anglican church located on St Dunstan's Hill, half way between London Bridge

London Bridge

London Bridge is a bridge between the City of London and Southwark in London, England, over the River Thames. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London....
and the Tower of London

Tower of London

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London , is a historic monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames....
in the City of London

City of London

The City of London is a geographically small city status in the United Kingdom within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which, along with Westminster, the modern conurbation grew....
. The church was destroyed in the Second World War and the medieval ruins are now a popular public garden.

church was built about 1100. It was severely damaged in the Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of London, England, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666....
in 1666. Rather than being completely rebuilt, the damaged church was patched up between 1668 and 1671.

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Encyclopedia

St Dunstan-in-the-East was an Anglican church located on St Dunstan's Hill, half way between London Bridge

London Bridge

Tower of London

City of London

History

The church was built about 1100. It was severely damaged in the Great Fire of London

Great Fire of London

Christopher Wren

Sir Christopher Wren was a 17th century England designer, astronomer, geometer, and one of the greatest English architects in history. Wren designed 53 London churches, including St Paul's Cathedral, as well as many secular buildings of note....
, was added 30 years later. This was unusual in that Wren designed it in the Gothic style, to match the old church.

By the early 19th century the church was in a very poor state; and it was rebuilt between 1817 and 1821 by David Laing

David Laing (19th century architect)

David Laing is principally known as the architect of the New Custom House in London, which was completed in 1817 and collapsed in 1825. Assisted by a young William Tite, he also rebuilt the church of St Dunstan-in-the-East between 1817 and 1821....
, with assistance by William Tite

William Tite

Sir William Tite, Order of the Bath was an England architect who served as President of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He was particularly associated with various London buildings, with railway stations and cemetery projects....
. Wren's steeple was retained in the new building.

The church was severely damaged in the Blitz

The Blitz

The Blitz was the sustained bombing of United Kingdom by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, in World War II. While the "Blitz" hit many towns and cities across the country, it began with the bombing of London for 57 consecutive nights ....
of 1941, during the Second World War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
. In the re-organisation of the Anglican Church in London following the War it was decided not to rebuild St Dunstan's, and in 1967 the City of London Corporation decided to turn the ruins of the church into a public garden. This was opened in 1971.

Wren's tower and steeple survived the bombs intact and now house the All Hallows House Foundation, a registered charity that provides core and complementary health services to those who live or work in the City of London, through its trading arm, The Wren Clinic. Of the rest of the church only the north and south walls remain. A lawn and trees have been planted within the ruins and a low fountain sits in the middle of the nave

Nave

In Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and Church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar....
. The gardens are claimed to be the most beautiful public gardens in the City of London

City of London

The City of London is a geographically small city status in the United Kingdom within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which, along with Westminster, the modern conurbation grew....
.

The church is now comprised within the parish of All Hallows by the Tower and occasional open-air services are held in the church, such as on Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Image:Meister der Palastkapelle in Palermo 002.jpg|thumb|300px|'The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem' mosaic by the Master of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo .]]...
prior to a procession to All Hallows by the Tower along St Dunstan's Hill and Great Tower Street. The church ruin was designated a Grade I listed building

Listed building

A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical or cultural significance....
on 04 January 1950.

St Dunstan-in-the-East

History

See also

External links