St Peter Westcheap was built in the 12th century and was rebuilt in the 16th century, when it was known as 'St Peter's at the Crosse in Cheape', because of the memorial cross erected there by King Edward I, in 1291. The cross was to honour Queen Eleanor and marked one of the twelve places where her body rested on the journey from Nottinghamshire to Westminster Abbey.
It became a holy shrine, adorned with religious carvings, and was consequently removed by the Puritans. Musicians often performed on the leads of the church during processions; and it was here that Queen Elizabeth I, on her procession through the City of London, was presented with a copy of the English translation of the Bible.
Three Lord Mayors are buried in the churchyard.
The church was not rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666.
The shop on the corner, backing on to the churchyard, L & R Wooderson, was built just 21 years after the Great Fire.
Today, the churchyard is a pocket park, offering a place of quiet respite, just a stone's throw from St Paul's Cathedral. It is also home to a London Plane tree, said to be "the oldest tree" in the City of London.
Glad there are a lot of pocket parks.
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few pocket parks, with some hidden down alleyways. Others are easy to find, usually in old churchyards, which are wonderful places to sit and relax.
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