Discover the famous church or Bow Bells. Are you a Cockney born within the sound of these bells? See the majestic architecture of Sir Christopher Wren. Enjoy coffee and cakes, breakfast and lunch in the Cafe Below. Morning & Evening Prayer offered daily. An oasis of peace in the midst of the City.
For more information visit on this building visit https://www.explorechurches.org/church/st-mary-le-bow-city-london
The name of the church is derived from the word 'hythe', a Saxon word for a landing place or jetty. The stretch of river close by St James' was London's most important hythe since Saxon, or possibly Roman, times. Garlic, a vital preservative and medicine in the Middle Ages, was unloaded here and probably traded on Garlick Hill, where the church now stands.
Nothing prepares you, as you climb the 13 steps up to St Stephen's, for the majestic space within. Because it was never intended to stand alone, the exterior is roughly finished. But inside, the dome is Wren's finest, based on his original design for St Paul's.
First mentioned in 1185 and rebuilt in 1441, the current church by Wren was completed in 1692; the tower by Robert Hooke was finished in 1700.
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