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==Early history==
==Early history==
The church of St Peter upon Cornhill stands on the highest point of the City of London. A tradition grew up that the church was of very ancient origin, and was the seat of an archbishop until the establishment of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] at the end of the sixth century,<ref name=allen>{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Thomas |last2=Wright |first2=Thomas |title=The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent|url= |volume=3 |year= 1839 |publisher= George Virtue|location= London |pages=447–50}}</ref> [[John Stow]], writing at the end of the sixteenth century recorded ““there remained in this church a table whereon is written, I know not by what authority, but of a late hand, that [[Lucius of Britain|King Lucius]] founded the same church to be a see metropolitan, and chief church of his kingdom, and so it endured for four hundred years”.<ref>Stow, John. ''A Survey of London, witten in the year 1598'', 1842, p.73</ref> He also said that, except for the steeple, the church seemed recently built. George Godwin in the nineteenth century transcribed a later version of the plaque that dated the foundation of the church to the year 179.<ref name=godwin/>
The church of St Peter upon Cornhill stands on the highest point of the City of London. A tradition grew up that the church was of very ancient origin, and was the seat of an archbishop until the establishment of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] at the end of the sixth century,<ref name=allen>{{cite book |last1=Allen |first1=Thomas |last2=Wright |first2=Thomas |title=The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent|url= |volume=3 |year= 1839 |publisher= George Virtue|location= London |pages=447–50}}</ref>
[[John Stow]], writing at the end of the sixteenth century, reported "there remaineth in this church a table whereon is written, I know not by what authority, but of a late hand, that [[Lucius of Britain|King Lucius]] founded the same church to be an [[Ecclesiastical province|archbishop's see metropolitan]], and chief church of his kingdom, and that it so endured for four hundred years".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stow |first1=John|title=A Survey of London, Written in the Year 1598 |year= 1842 |location= London | publisher= Whittaker & Co.|page=73 |url=http://archive.org/stream/asurveylondon06stowgoog#page/n95/}}</ref> The "table" (tablet) seen by Stow was lost, probably when the medieval church was destroyed in the [[Great Fire]], but before this a number of writers had recorded what it said. The text of the original tablet as printed by [[John Weever]] in 1631 began:

<blockquote>Be hit known to al men, that the yeerys of our Lord God an clxxix [AD 179]. ''Lucius'' the fyrst christen kyng of this lond, then callyd Brytayne, fowndyd the fyrst chyrch in London, that is to sey, the Chyrch of Sent ''Peter'' apon Cornhyl, and he fowndyd ther an Archbishoppys See, and made that Chirch the Metropolitant, and cheef Chirch of this kingdom... <ref>{{cite book |last=Weever |first=John|authorlink=John Weever |title=Ancient Funerall Monuments |year= 1631 |location= London |page=413}}</ref></blockquote>

A replacement, in the form of an inscribed brass plate, was erected after the Great Fire and survives in the church today. An engraving of this plate was included in Robert Wilkinson's ''Londina Illustrata'' (1819-25).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilkinson |first=Robert|title=Londina Illustrata |year= 1819-25 |publisher =Robert Wilkinson| location= London}} An illustration of Wilkinson's engraving is accessible at {{cite web |url= http://hdl.handle.net/10427/54651 |title=Tufts University. Digital Collections and Archives: MS004.002.056.DO01.00049|accessdate=6 April 2013}}</ref> The text of the brass plate has been printed several times, for example by George Godwin in 1839.<ref name=godwin>


In 1444 a "[[Horse mill|horsemill]]" was given to St Peter's. The bells of St Peter are mentioned in 1552, when a bell foundry in [[Aldgate]] was asked to cast a new bell.
In 1444 a "[[Horse mill|horsemill]]" was given to St Peter's. The bells of St Peter are mentioned in 1552, when a bell foundry in [[Aldgate]] was asked to cast a new bell.

Revision as of 16:46, 6 April 2013

St. Peter upon Cornhill
Photo from corner of Cornhill and Gracechurch Street
Map
AddressGracechurch Street, City of London
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Architecture
Architect(s)Sir Christopher Wren
StyleBaroque
Administration
ParishSt Helen's Bishopsgate

St Peter upon Cornhill is an Anglican church on the corner of Cornhill and Gracechurch Street in the City of London Of medieval origin, t was destroyed in the Great fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt to the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. It is now a satellite church in the parish of St Helen's Bishopsgate, and is used for staff training, bible studies and a youth club. The St Helen's church office controls access to St Peter's.[1]

The church was used by the Tank Regiment after the Second World War, subsumed under St Helen's Bishopsgate.

Early history

The church of St Peter upon Cornhill stands on the highest point of the City of London. A tradition grew up that the church was of very ancient origin, and was the seat of an archbishop until the establishment of Canterbury Cathedral at the end of the sixth century,[2]

John Stow, writing at the end of the sixteenth century, reported "there remaineth in this church a table whereon is written, I know not by what authority, but of a late hand, that King Lucius founded the same church to be an archbishop's see metropolitan, and chief church of his kingdom, and that it so endured for four hundred years".[3] The "table" (tablet) seen by Stow was lost, probably when the medieval church was destroyed in the Great Fire, but before this a number of writers had recorded what it said. The text of the original tablet as printed by John Weever in 1631 began:

Be hit known to al men, that the yeerys of our Lord God an clxxix [AD 179]. Lucius the fyrst christen kyng of this lond, then callyd Brytayne, fowndyd the fyrst chyrch in London, that is to sey, the Chyrch of Sent Peter apon Cornhyl, and he fowndyd ther an Archbishoppys See, and made that Chirch the Metropolitant, and cheef Chirch of this kingdom... [4]

A replacement, in the form of an inscribed brass plate, was erected after the Great Fire and survives in the church today. An engraving of this plate was included in Robert Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata (1819-25).[5] The text of the brass plate has been printed several times, for example by George Godwin in 1839.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

St Peter's was described by Ian Nairn as having "three personalities inextricably sewn into the City".[6] The eastern frontage to Gracechurch Street is a grand stone-faced composition, with five arched windows between Ionic pilasters above a high stylobate. The pilasters support an entablature ; above that is a blank attic story, then a gable with one arched window flanked by two round ones. The north and south sides, are stuccoed, and much simpler in style. Unusually, shallow nineteenth century shops have survived towards Cornhill, squeezed between the church and the pavement. The tower is of brick, its leaded cupola topped with a small spire, which is in turn surmounted by a weather vane in the shape of St. Peter’s key.[7][8]

The interior is aisled, with square arcade piers[9] resting on the medieval pier foundations. The nave is barrel vaulted, while the aisles have transverse barrel vaults.[8] Unusually for a Wren church there is a screen marking the division between nave and chancel. This was installed at the insistence of the rector at the time of rebuilding, William Beveridge[10]

Charles Dickens mentions the churchyard in "Our Mutual Friend". A theatre group called The Players of St Peter were formed at the church in 1946 and performed there until 1987.[11] They are now based at St Clement Eastcheap where its members perform medieval mystery plays each November.

The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 4 January 1950.[12]

Features and points of interest

Music

In June, 1834, the fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Mounsey became the organist of St. Peter's.

The organ in the gallery of St Peter's has an autographed souvenir quote from a Bach Passacaglia on display, which Felix Mendelssohn gave to Elizabeth Mounsey, on 30 September 1840, after he gave an impromptu performance the church's organ[13]

Jowett

In the 1830s, the notable missionary William Jowett was a lecturer at the church.[14]

Burials

  • Churchyard seats
    Churchyard seats
  • Small garden
    Small garden
  • From St Peter's Court
    From St Peter's Court

See also

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.st-helens.org.uk/home/
  2. ^ Allen, Thomas; Wright, Thomas (1839). The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark and Parts Adjacent. Vol. 3. London: George Virtue. pp. 447–50.
  3. ^ Stow, John (1842). A Survey of London, Written in the Year 1598. London: Whittaker & Co. p. 73.
  4. ^ Weever, John (1631). Ancient Funerall Monuments. London. p. 413.
  5. ^ Wilkinson, Robert (1819–25). Londina Illustrata. London: Robert Wilkinson.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) An illustration of Wilkinson's engraving is accessible at "Tufts University. Digital Collections and Archives: MS004.002.056.DO01.00049". Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ^ Nairn, Ian (1966). Nairn's London. Harmondsworth: Peguin Books. p. 27.
  7. ^ Godwin, George (1839). The Churches of London: A History and Description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis. London: C. Tilt. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ a b Bradley, Simon and Pevsner, Nikolaus. London: The City Churches. New Haven, Yale, 1998. ISBN 0-300-09655-0 p.123
  9. ^ Malcolm, James Peller (1807). Londinium Redivivium, or, an Ancient History and Modern Description of London. Vol. 4. London.
  10. ^ Hatts, Leigh. London City Churches, 2003, p.84 ISBN 978-0-9545705-0-7
  11. ^ Players of St Peter cast lists
  12. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database ({{{num}}})". National Heritage List for England. accessed 23 January 2009
  13. ^ (in addition to the Passacaglia, he played Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E minor, and his own Prelude and Fugue in C minor, Op. 37, No. 1 and another fugue in F minor). [Musical Times, November 1, 1905, p. 719]
  14. ^ Goodwin, G., revised by H. C. G. Matthew, 'Jowett, William (1787–1855), missionary', in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004)

External links

51°30′47.7″N 0°5′4.5″W / 51.513250°N 0.084583°W / 51.513250; -0.084583

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=St_Peter_upon_Cornhill&diff=549016835&oldid=

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