London Undone

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

42. St Margaret Lothbury’s name is curious… and so are its features. It contains a hoard of ecclesiastical items taken from other (now gone) City of London Churches including an unusual candy-cane wooden screen, a giant tester board, some impressive memorials and gigantic paintings. These varied and ‘unoriginal’ features mean the church is a joy to enter. Signe Hoffos who contributes so expertly to this podcast also shares some of the dramas that have taken place here over the years including the struggle to keep their neighbours, the Bank of England, at bay.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

41. All that remains of St Bartholomew the Great is still indeed great. Some of the spectacular features of this 900 year old half-church are its Norman architecture, its delightful memorial to the Whitings family, a golden Damien Hirst sculpture of St Bartholomew and... its hot cross bun ceremony. Oh - did I mention some classic films were filmed on location here too. Kevin Larder brings this and its long history to life in this episode.. and more! Many thanks to the wonderfully enthusiastic Kevin who is a guide at St Barts Hospital Museum.  

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

40. St Mary Abchurch demonstrates yet another of Christopher Wren's methods of creating a large domed roof. It also contains superb wood carving by Grinling Gibbons. Hear about the many details contained within its unassuming brick walls as a few myths about the church are dispelled along the way.

With thanks to Signe Hoffos from The Friends of the City Churches

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

39. Hear Rector George Bush explain once and for all that the bells of St Mary-le-Bow were indeed the Bow bells! More than this, this church has the most extraordinary stained glass windows, has a 9ft dragon as a weather vane, and has always been connected to the Archbishop of Canterbury. For foodies, the very first City church cafe/ restaurant still operates in the old Norman crypt. There’s a lot more to St Mary-le-Bow than its Christopher Wren (or Robert Hooke) walls. Press ‘play'!

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

38. Oddly Christopher Wren's largest parish church (now a guild church) is well hidden below Holborn Circus. But don't miss out on St Andrew Holborn which has recently been refurbished and brought back to its former splendour. Connected to the church are Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, children's champion Thomas Coram and novelist Charles Dickens. But most magically of all, the fresh underground water from one of the three wells in the crypt of the church is pumped up to the font. With great thanks to Nick Hills for enlightening us.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

37. This is the only church in the East of England dedicated to St Bridget and there is much to learn about it… layers and layers of London’s history… of stones… of unusual treasures… of people: From the Roman pavements in the depths of the crypt to the top of the ‘wedding cake’ Christopher Wren spire you will be astounded by what The Reverend Canon Dr Alison Joyce has to say about her much loved church… and if you listen… you may feel like this is ‘London’s’ church too.

With great thanks to Rev Alison for her enthusiastic and comprehensive contribution.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

36. Woof! The only church in the city of London to deliver an animal blessing service. Hear from the pets and their owners about this annual event. Also hear from Rector Fr. David Armstrong about the rebellious nature of this liberal church, its tennis court and its link to the notorious Bedlam ‘hospital’! With great thanks.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

35. This is the only Roman Catholic church in the square mile and it's easily mistaken for a shop! But do take a walk through its oft open doors for some peace and tranquility and tune in to this podcast where Fr Chris Vipers shares its history, features and a sense of its spirituality.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

34. St Olave Hart Street has been described by John Betjeman, once poet laureate, as a ‘country church’ but was also described by Charles Dickens in one of his essays a century earlier as ‘the church of ghastly grim’. It was also the local church for the great diarist Samuel Pepys’s. Curious? Hear about these and its other connections in this podcast. 

With thanks to Reverend Arani Sen.

The London Undone ‘City of London Churches’ podcast series: A journey around the magnificent and many churches of the City of London. Learn about their histories, architecture, associations, features and their spiritual lives today.

33. St Mary-at-Hill – home of the Fish Harvest Festival. Tucked in between two atmospheric, cobbled alleys up from old Billingsgate market is another church with peculiar and diverse associations including trombone playing vicars and plague pits. Hear here from the fishmongers who help raise money at the annual harvest festival of the sea. Learn about what it was like before the old fish market closed. Hold your noses! With thanks to Fiona Lukas, church watcher for the Friends of the City Churches, Bill Halley and Thomas Wicker – from Billingsgate – past and present.