Description
Although the first written reference to St Peter Cornhill is in 1040, there is a legend that the church was founded in AD179 by Lucius, first Christian King of Britain. A Roman wall passed beneath the north-east corner of the church. Destroyed in the Great Fire, the present church was built by Wren in 1677-84. There was a churchyard by 1231 to the south of the church, which was mentioned by Charles Dickens in 'Our Mutual Friend', who described the graves 'conveniently and healthfully elevated above the living'. The churchyard is now laid out as public gardens with a raised area of grass, trees and shrubbery on either side of the path from the entrance on St Peter's Alley. Surmounted on the Victorian wrought iron gates is a small figure of St Peter. The garden was re-landscaped in 1997.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | St Peter-upon-Cornhill |
|---|---|
| Site location | Cornhill/Gracechurch Street/St Peter's Alley |
| Postcode | EC3V 3PD |
| What3Words | ///rises.traded.tools |
| Type of Site | Public Gardens |
| Borough | City of London |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted. Church open by arrangement with St Helen's Bishopsgate |
| Public Transport | Tube: Bank (Central, DLR, Northern, Waterloo & City) / Monument (Circle, District) |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Although the first written reference to St Peter's is in 1040, there is a legend that the church was founded in AD 179 by Lucius, first Christian King of Britain and a brass plaque to this effect was set up in the church in the reign of Edward IV (1461-83) when the church was rebuilt. However, John Stow wrote in 1598 that the church though ancient, was 'not so ancient as fame reporteth'. Notwithstanding, this history gave it protection from demolition or being united with any other Church by 2 Acts of Parliament. A Roman wall passed beneath the north-east corner of the church. Attached to the church from c1447 was one of the City's four grammar schools and there was later a library known to be have been used by the Tudor antiquary John Leland. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire and the present church rebuilt by Wren in 1677-84, the interior restored in 1872 by J D Wyatt although it still has the organ from the earlier church, on which Felix Mendelssohn played. The spire has weathervane in the shape of a huge key.
The churchyard was here by 1231 and lies to the south of the church and provides the best view of Wren's church. Charles Dickens mentions the churchyard in 'Our Mutual Friend', describing the graves 'conveniently and healthfully elevated above the living'. It is now a raised garden on either side of the south door and is enclosed on three sides by modern buildings, and entered through Victorian wrought iron gates surmounted on which is a small figure of St Peter, painted gold. The garden was re-landscaped in 1997, with areas of paving and grass are two tall plane trees and the headstones have been set into the wall of the church, and there are modern urns, flower displays and seats.
The churchyard was here by 1231 and lies to the south of the church and provides the best view of Wren's church. Charles Dickens mentions the churchyard in 'Our Mutual Friend', describing the graves 'conveniently and healthfully elevated above the living'. It is now a raised garden on either side of the south door and is enclosed on three sides by modern buildings, and entered through Victorian wrought iron gates surmounted on which is a small figure of St Peter, painted gold. The garden was re-landscaped in 1997, with areas of paving and grass are two tall plane trees and the headstones have been set into the wall of the church, and there are modern urns, flower displays and seats.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ329811 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 0.0367 |
| Site Ownership | Diocese of London |
| Site Management | City of London Corporation Open Spaces Dept. |
| Dates | C11th; 1677-81, 1872, 1997 |
| Listed Structures | LBI: St Peter Cornhill. LBII: Gateway to churchyard on St Peter's Alley |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | City of London |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Bank |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
St Michael's Church is of early origin, known to have been given to the Abbey and Convent of Evesham in 1055, and in 1503 it was conveyed to the Drapers' Company. The south side of the church had a cloister, and a pulpit cross was erected in the churchyard in 1528. The church was originally open to the north to Cornhill with a small churchyard but this was sold and built over between 1547-53. The church was destroyed in the Great Fire and rebuilt by 1672, the tower initially repaired then rebuilt by 1721. Some of Wren's work was lost when St Michael's was remodelled in 1857-60 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Many famous people were buried here, including Robert Fabian, John Stow's father and grandfather, and Sir William Cowper. The former churchyard was laid out as a garden with lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees, and a row of benches against the church wall.
The Merchant Taylors' Garden is the oldest surviving Livery Company garden. The Fraternity of Tailors and Linen Armourers was established in the early C14th, later becoming the Merchant Taylors' Company. Their Hall was built between 1347-92 and its medieval crypt and great kitchen survive although all but the shell was destroyed in the Great Fire, and severe damage in WWII bombing. The first known record of a garden occurs in 1406, and the main development appears to have taken place c.1573 when there was a bowling alley, terrace and knot garden with herbs. A plan of 1680 shows 3 garden areas, the main area being what is now the enclosed courtyard garden. In the early C20th major refurbishment of the buildings took place, which included a new largely paved courtyard garden with four rhomboid flower beds around a central fountain; a statue of John the Baptist was added in 1914. In 1984/6 the garden was redesigned by raising the fountain and its surround, moving the flower beds to the outer edge and laying new stone.
The church is likely to be of Saxon origin and is dedicated to Edmund, the King of East Anglia who died in 870 attempting to escape the attacking Danes. It was also known as St Edmund's Grass-church due to the grass market once held nearby. It was burnt down in the Great Fire and rebuilt under the supervision of Wren; it was later restored in 1864 and again following WWII damage. In 2001 it became the London Centre for Spirituality. The existence of the churchyard is referred to in 1220; it closed for burials in 1853 and now has a small enclosed garden. Among those buried here was John Shute (d.1563), an architect who published what may be the first work on practical architecture in England. Joseph Addison, the celebrated essayist and politician, married Charlotte, Countess Dowager of Warwick and Holland, at St Edmund's in 1716.
