Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury contains elements of both Renaissance Classical and Wren's own English Baroque style. Mary's, he undoubtedly was the guiding vision behind the design.

But, while Wren may not have personally drawn all the plans for St. No original drawings remain drawings were typically made by Wren's assistants as guidance for the workers and would be in poor shape when the builders finished with them. By 1677 the work was essentially complete the cupola was added to the tower in 1679. The church was rebuilt on part of the old foundation with as much original stone as could be salvaged - saving both time and money. The only medieval stones which were incorporated into the new church were the foundation and the stairs that lead to the crypt. With approval for rebuilding granted in 1670, work began in 1672 with the removal of 1,068 cubic yards of rubble. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury was the ninth to be rebuilt by Wren. With so much of London in ruin after the Great Fire, King Charles II commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to rebuild 52 new churches all over London. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury emerged from the ashes of London. Like the mythical Phoenix - the bird reborn from fire to live again - St. This was the prelude to the first rebirth of the church. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury - lay in ruins. When it finally burned out, the city of London north of the Thames - including the entire parish of St.

On 2 September 1666 the Great Fire of London began, burning for five days.

Even civil war and plague did not stop the parish's development.īut what social change and upheaval could not stop, fire did. It survived both the English Reformation and Restoration, becoming one of the prominent Puritan parishes of the 17th century. The parish and church grew with the City of London and shared all of its struggles. Sometime before the 16th century it received an endowment from the 'late Alderman Bury of London,' acknowledged in the church's name. As a medieval parish church, it was responsible for the religious well-being of persons within its geographical area. The church was founded in the late 11th or early 12th century within what is now the historic City of London. Despite many calamities, this church has been an active place of worship for more than 800 years. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury is a story of survival - in the midst of rebellion, plague, fire, and war. The Phoenix Continues to Rise From Foundation to the Great Fire

The ashes of london