St Bride's Church, London

The steeple of St Bride's has been a delight for Londoners ever since 1703. Originally much more visible, its slender joyful presence has now to be sought and savoured among its present interposing neighbours. It is possibly the 8th church on the site. The dedication is to St Bridget of Kildare and it was built on a former Roman graveyard. Excaavations after the last War have uncovered a Roman pavement, a Saxon church with apse and the foundations for a Norman church tower. Visit the crypt below to see this and the interesting museum.

After the Great Fire of Lndon in 1666 it was rebuilt 1671-1678 according to the designs of Sir Christoper Wren : his most expensive church and one of his masterpieces.The steeple rises 226 ft. and is the most famous part of the church. Originally it was 8 feet higher but was damaged by lighning in 1764.It was the inspiration for designing a wedding cake by Mr. Rich, a chef on Ludgate Hill. He became famed for this and died in 1811.

Alas the Blitz of 1940 destroyed the core of the building and all the furnishings including the reredos and the galleries were lost. The galleries were not rebuilt but the reredos now has an appropriate stylistic replace,ment. The seating has been reordered and replaced and the church best resembles a College Chapel.

 It is known as the Parish Church of Fleet Street or the  Journalists' Church.

Nave - note the College Cgapel arrangement of pews and replacement reredos