St Helen's Church, Bishopsgate

St Helen's Bishopsgate is an Anglican church in London. It is located in Great St Helen's, off Bishopsgate.

St Helen's Bishopsgate
St Helen's Bishopsgate pictured in 2006
LocationLondon, EC3
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
Previous denominationRoman Catholicism
ChurchmanshipConservative evangelical
Websitest-helens.org.uk
History
StatusParish Church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designationGrade I listed building
Administration
ParishSt Helen's Bishopsgate with St Andrew Undershaft and St Ethelburga Bishopsgate and St Martin Outwich and St Mary Axe
DioceseLondon
Clergy
RectorWilliam Taylor

It is the largest surviving parish church in the City of London. Several notable figures are buried there, and it contains more monuments than any other church in Greater London except Westminster Abbey, hence it is sometimes referred to as the "Westminster Abbey of the City". It was the parish church of William Shakespeare when he lived in the area in the 1590s.[1][2] It was one of only a few churches in the City of London to survive both the Great Fire of 1666 and the Blitz.

Owing to parish consolidation over the years, the parish is now named "St Helen's Bishopsgate with St Andrew Undershaft and St Ethelburga Bishopsgate and St Martin Outwich and St Mary Axe". The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors are the patrons of the benefice.[3]

Today, it is home to a large congregation in the conservative evangelical tradition with a ministry to city workers, families, students and young professionals. Three English-speaking church services take place each Sunday, as well as a number of midweek talks and small group Bible studies.

The nearby churches St Andrew Undershaft and St Peter upon Cornhill are also administered by St Helen's.

History

Although it is thought that a Roman or a Saxon building might have stood on the site, the first mentions of the parish church of St Helen date back to the mid-12th century. In 1210, the Dean and chapter of St. Paul's gave William, son of William Goldsmith, permission to establish a priory of Benedictine nuns, and a nunnery was built alongside the existing church.[4] The new church was four feet wider than the parish church, and longer too, so the parish church was lengthened to match. The masonry of the outer walls as it currently stands was in place by 1300.[5][6] The church was divided in two by a partition running from east to west, the northern half serving the nuns and the southern the parishioners. In 1480, four great arches were installed between the nun's choir and the parishioner's nave, and a wooden screen was put in place to separate the two. An additional screen was placed in the parish church to separate the chancel in the east end of the church, where the altar was located, from the nave.

A crypt extended north from the church under the hall.[6] Next to the church, the priory had extensive monastic buildings; they were later acquired and used by the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers until their demolition in 1799. The church is the only surviving building from a nunnery in the City of London.

Interior of St Helen's Bishopsgate

When the priory was dissolved in 1538, the nunnery was incorporated in the parish church and the screen separating it from the rest of the church was removed. This gave the church its unusual construction consisting of two naves. In the following years, the building was rearranged according the principles of the Reformation, which put the emphasis on the preaching of the Word and on the full and active participation of the congregation. A Jacobean pulpit was erected in 1615 in a central position on the south wall, accompanied by an ornamental tester in 1640. Box pews were installed and arranged around the pulpit.

In the 17th century, extensive repairs were carried out, most notably resulting in the addition of two Classical wooden doorcases.[6][7] By the end of the century, a bell turret was also erected. St Helen's was one of only a few City of London churches to survive the Great Fire of London of 1666.

A new organ and organ loft were installed on the west end of the church in 1742, designed by Thomas Griffin. In 1874 the parish was united with that of St Martin Outwich when the latter's church was demolished, and the first incumbent of the new parish was John Bathurst Deane.

During the Victorian era, two significant restorations were carried out. The first, in 1865, provided the two stone tracery windows on the east end of the church and stained glass throughout the building. The second, more significant, Victorian restoration was carried out from 1891 to 1893 by John Loughborough Pearson under supervision of the then rector, Rev. John Alfred Lumb Airey. This restoration was inspired by the Oxford movement, which advocated moving the centre of importance in the church from preaching to the sacrament of the Eucharist. This new arrangement resulted in a new floor with levels gradually ascending from the west to a new high altar in the east, completed by an ornated reredos and marble pavement, once again enclosed in a chancel by a neo-Gothic screen. The organ was expanded and moved to the south transept, where two additional altars were also placed in two side chapels, the Chapel of the Holy Ghost and the Chapel of our Lady. The church was reopened on St John the Baptist's Day in 1893 by the Bishop of London, Frederick Temple.

The Jacobean pulpit

As the church had been used as a burial ground for centuries, it is thought that over a 1000 bodies had been interred in vaults under the floor by this period. The excavation of the floor at the start of the 1891 restoration caused some of the burials to emerge from the vaults: all work had to stop for one year until all human remains were translated to Ilford Cemetery, and a 2-foot concrete slab was put in place between the floor and the remains of the vault.

The church was left undamaged by the Blitz during World War II[8] and it was designated a Grade I-listed building on 4 January 1950.[9]

When Dick Lucas became rector in 1961, St Helen's grew from a small congregation of a few individuals to a large thriving church within the conservative evangelical tradition of the Church of England, with a reputation for strong Bible teaching and preaching. As the City of London had grown to become a major business and Financial centre, the church started providing an active midweek ministry to City workers. Next to the lunchtime midweek talks for workers, the three Sunday services are now attended by a diverse range of people including students, young workers, families and internationals.

In 1992 and 1993, the church was badly damaged by two IRA bombs that were set off nearby.[10] A full restoration was carried out by architect Quinlan Terry, an enthusiast of Georgian architecture, and designed along Reformation lines. The floor was evened out and returned to its original level, which allowed for the installation of underfloor heating, a sound reinforcement system and a baptistry in front of the pulpit. A new gallery was erected on the west end to provide additional seating and house the organ, now returned to its original position. All the windows were glazed in clear glass. The Victorian screen was rotated by 90 degrees across the south transept, opening up the former chancel. A new door was opened in the south transept. All altars were removed, giving space to a restored Georgian communion table.

The principles of this restoration sought to arrange the building once again around the preaching of the Word and strip it down of the ritualistic elements added in Victorian times, following the needs of the large Evangelical congregation. This new arrangement allowed the seating capacity to be increased from 500 to a 1000, all in a large open space with a clear view on the pulpit and lectern.[11]

Activities

The church holds three English-speaking services each Sunday, one at 10:30 am, another at 4:00 pm, and a 6:00 pm evening service. The Sunday afternoon and evening services are followed by an informal meal and opportunities to socialise. A Mandarin-speaking service takes place each Sunday at 2:00 pm.

A number of lunchtime talks and meetings take place during the working week, providing an opportunity for people who work in the City of London to hear the Christian message and be encouraged to live as Christians at works.

There are also numerous small groups which meet at the church during the week. These include the "Read, Mark, Learn" (RML) groups which either study the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of John, the Epistle to the Romans or a Bible overview over the course of a year, and the Central Focus group which studies a whole variety of topics and books from the Bible. The church also runs the Christianity Explored course regularly.

Some activities take place in the nearby church of St Peter upon Cornhill and the church of St Andrew Undershaft, which are also administered by St Helen's.

Building

The present building is the result of a substantial restoration in 1993-1995 by architect Quinlan Terry, after consistent damages were incurred by two IRA bombs in 1992 and 1993.

The restoration resulted in a bright, large, flexible open-space interior that can be used in different configurations. It is equipped with modern lighting, underfloor heating, and public address system. Although some of the monuments where lost due to the bombings, the majority of them survived and were preserved in the building.


Memorials
  1. North wall of the nuns' choir, near the west end, Alderman John Robinson, 1599. An Elizabethan group of kneeling figures; the deceased and his wife with nine sons and seven daughters.
  2. In the north-east corner, at the east end of the nuns' choir, altar tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham, 1579. Founder of the Royal Exchange and the Gresham Lectures. Before 1995, this space was known as the Gresham Memorial Chapel
  3. In the south transept, Sir Julius Caesar Adelmare, 1636. Judge of the Court of Admiralty. Altar tomb with Latin epitaph in the form of a deed to which is affixed the broad seal of the deceased. Before 1995, this was located side by side the Gresham memorial.
  4. In the south-east corner of the Gresham Memorial Chapel, Sir Andrew Judd 1558. Lord Mayor, citizen and skinner. Founder of Tonbridge School.
  5. Under the chancel arch, north of where the high altar once stood, Sir William Pickering, 1574. Ambassador in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Altar tomb with recumbent figure surmounted by a lofty canopy.
  6. Under the chancel arch, south where the high altar once stood, Sir John Crosby 1476[12][13] founder of Crosby Hall, and Agnes his wife. Altar tomb with recumbent figures.
  7. In the south transept, Sir John Oteswich and his wife. Formerly in the church of St Martin Outwich.
  8. Against the south wall of the church, sightly to the west of the south entrance, Sir John Spencer and his wife, 1609. Altar tomb under a canopy with recumbent figures, and a third kneeling figure.


Organ

The organ dates from 1742 when an annuity organ by Thomas Griffin was installed. It has undergone several restorations since by builders such as George Pike England in 1810, J. C. Bishop and Son in 1910 and 1923, Hill, Norman and Beard in 1929 and 1957 and Martin Goetze & Dominic Gwynn in 1996. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

The organ on the west gallery

The organ is of historic significance and has been awarded a Grade II* listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies.

Organists
  • Thomas Griffin 1744–1771
  • George Griffin 1771–1809
  • William Henry Cutler 1809–1819
  • George Warne 1819–1820
  • Joseph Nightingale 1820–1842/7?
  • William Richard Bexfield 1848–1853
  • Mr Deane 1854
  • Miss A. Barton 1867
  • Richard Simpkin 1995-present

Burials

Notable ministers

Rectors

---

  • 1873-1887: John Bathurst Deane
  • 1887-1909: John Alfred Lumb Airey
  • 1951-1953: Ronald Goodchild
  • 1953-1961: John Miller
  • 1961-1998: Dick Lucas
  • 1998–present: William Taylor

Curates

Church plants

St Helen's has been involved in numerous church planting initiatives, some within the auspices of the Church of England, some outside of it.[14]

Name Location Web Type Affiliation Founded Minister Notes
Christ Church, Mayfair Mayfair [15] Church Diocese of London 2001 Matt Fuller Also a Co-Mission church
St Peter's Barge Canary Wharf [16] Church Diocese of London 2003 Marcus Nodder Britain's only church on a boat
Grace Church Dulwich Dulwich [17] Church Diocese of Southwark 2005 Simon Dowdy Meet in a local primary school
Grace Church Wanstead Wanstead [18] Church Independent 2006 David Gibbs Joint plant with Christ Church Leyton. Meet in Wanstead House
Grace Church Hackney Hackney [19] Church Diocese of London 2004 Andrew Jones Meet in St Anne's, Hoxton
Trinity Islington Islington [20] Church Diocese of London 2007 Jeremy Hobson Meet in St Mark's, Myddelton Square
Euston Church Bloomsbury [21] Church Diocese of London 2010 Kev Murdoch Since 2015 has met in Church of Christ the King, Bloomsbury
Grace Church Brockley Brockley [22] Church FIEC 2011 Raymond Brown Meet in Crofton Park Baptist Church
Redeemer, Croydon Croydon [23] Church Independent 2013 Will Dobbie Joint plant with Christ Church Bromley.[24] Meet in a local primary school
Grace Church Sydenham Sydenham [25] Church Anglican Mission in England 2015 Tim Iles Meet in a youth centre
Grace Church Greenwich Greenwich [26] Church Diocese of Southwark 2015 Andrew Latimer Joint plant with St Peter's Barge. Meet in Old Royal Naval College
Crossway, Stratford Stratford [27] Church Independent 2016 Jamie Child Meet in university buildings
St Nicholas Cole Abbey City of London [28] Church Diocese of London 2016 Chris Fishlock Sunday services restarted for first time since 1941
Covent Garden Talks Covent Garden [29] Lunchtime talks Meets at the Swiss Church, Endell Street
Euston Area Talks Bloomsbury [30] Lunchtime talks Meets in Church of Christ the King, Bloomsbury
Fleet Street Talks Fleet Street [31] Lunchtime talks Meets in a building on Fleet Street
London Bridge Network London Bridge [32] Lunchtime talks
Moorgate Talks Moorgate [33] Lunchtime talks
St Botolph's, Aldersgate City of London [34] Lunchtime talks Diocese of London Simon Dowdy Church used for lunchtime talks but not for regular services
Westminster@One Westminster [35] Lunchtime talks 2000 Also a Co-Mission initiative. Meets in Methodist Central Hall
St Helen's
Aldersgate
St Peter's Barge
CC Mayfair
Euston
GC Hackney
Islington
GC Dulwich
GC Sydenham
GC Wanstead
GC Brockley
Redeemer Croydon
GC Greenwich
Crossway Stratford
Cole Abbey
Churches planted from St Helen's (red = London Diocese; blue = outside CoE)

See also

Notes
  1. Hales 1904, pp. 401–2.
  2. In Search of Shakespeare. Bishopsgate
  3. Details of the history of St Helen's and the other churches in this benefice (St Andrew, St Martin Outwich etc) in the 17th century can be found in Lee Gatiss, The Tragedy of 1662: The Ejection and Persecution of the Puritans. Gatiss Archived 2007-09-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "The City Churches" Tabor, M. p37:London; The Swarthmore Press Ltd; 1917
  5. "History & Building". www.st-helens.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  6. Godwin, George; John Britton (1839). The Churches of London: A History and Description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis. London: C. Tilt.
  7. Nairn, Ian. Nairn's London. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. p. 28.
  8. "The Old Churches of London" Cobb,G: London, Batsford, 1942
  9. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1286458)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 January 2009.
  10. "The Visitors Guide to the City of London Churches" Tucker,T: London, Friends of the City Churches, 2006 ISBN 0-9553945-0-3
  11. "Restoration after the bomb - Talk by architect Quinlan Terry". www.st-helens.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-06.
  12. "Churches of the City of London" Reynolds, H. : London, Bodley Head, 1922
  13. 'Appendix 2: The will of Sir John Crosby', Survey of London Monograph 9: Crosby Place (1908), pp. 69–84 Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  14. "St Helen's Bishopsgate - About - Links". www.st-helens.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  15. "Christ Church Mayfair". www.christchurchmayfair.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  16. "St Peter's Barge". St Peter's Barge. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  17. "Grace Church Dulwich - Prayer, Proclamation, People". www.gracechurchdulwich.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  18. uklwd.net, Kane Balagtey -. "Grace Church Wanstead!". gracechurchwanstead.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  19. "Grace Church Hackney". www.gracechurchhackney.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  20. "Welcome". Trinity Church Islington. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  21. "Welcome". Euston Church. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  22. "gracechurchbrockley.org". www.gracechurchbrockley.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  23. "Where God Changes Lives - Redeemer Croydon". Redeemer Croydon. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  24. "Ship of Fools: The Mystery Worshipper". shipoffools.com. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
  25. "Grace Church Sydenham - Grace Church Sydenham". Grace Church Sydenham. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  26. "Grace Church Greenwich". www.greenwich.church. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  27. "Crossway Stratford | Your Vibrant Church in Stratford London". crosswaystratford.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  28. "St Nick's Church". St Nick's Church. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  29. "Covent Garden Talks – Bringing Jesus into work". www.coventgardentalks.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  30. Talks, Euston Area. "Euston Area Talks - Euston Area Talks". eustonareatalks.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  31. "The Fleet Street Talks – a mid-week church in the heart of the city". www.fleetstreettalks.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  32. https://www.londonbridgenetwork.org/
  33. Talks, The Moorgate. "The Moorgate Talks > Home". www.themoorgatetalks.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  34. "The Aldersgate Talks:". www.thealdersgatetalks.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  35. "Westminster at 1". www.westminsteratone.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.

References

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