St Mary-le-Bow

Church of St Mary-le-Bow

The Church of St Mary-le-Bow (/lə ˈboʊ/, rhymes with 'know') is a Church of England parish church in the City of London, England. It is located on Cheapside, one of the city's oldest streets. The church was founded in 1080 by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury.

The church has been rebuilt many times. The current building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

This church is well-known for its tall spire and beautiful bells. The bells are mentioned in the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons". There is a story about Dick Whittington hearing these bells in 1392. This led him to return to the city and later become Lord Mayor. In the past, someone born near the bells was considered a true Londoner, or Cockney.

During the Second World War, the church was damaged. The inside was destroyed, and the bells fell, but the tower stayed standing. From 1956 to 1964, the church was restored. Even while it was being rebuilt, it was given Grade I listed status in 1950 on the National Heritage List for England. This is the highest protection for important buildings.

History

The first church for St Mary on Cheapside was built by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1080. This church used Caen stone, like the Tower of London. It had a lower undercroft and an upper church, which gave it its name, St Mary-le-Bow, meaning "St Mary of the Arches."

The tower of St. Mary-le-Bow as it appeared before the Great Fire

Over time, the church faced many challenges. A big storm destroyed it in 1091, and a fire damaged it in 1196. After the fire, it was rebuilt and became important for the Archbishops of Canterbury. In 1666, the Great Fire of London almost destroyed the church, but the tower remained standing. Christopher Wren was chosen to rebuild it. He made a taller tower and a lovely spire. The rebuilding took many years and was completed in 1680.

During World War II, the church was damaged by bombings but was fixed up again.

Architecture

The Church of St Mary-le-Bow has a simple rectangular shape. The tower is in the northwest corner, apart from the main church by a small entrance area called a vestibule. The main area, called the chancel, sits at the eastern end, with narrow side areas called aisles on both sides.

Floor plan

The outside of the church is mostly red brick, with special decorations in Portland stone. The tallest part is a tower built by Sir Christopher Wren. This tower is very high and made of Portland stone. It has four levels and ends with an impressive stone spire. The tower has doors, large windows, and detailed stonework. The spire also has several levels and ends in a tall point with a dragon-shaped weather vane.

Inside, the church has three main sections called bays, separated by large rounded arches. The ceiling above the main area is painted blue and white. The church has beautiful stained glass windows made by John Hayward in the 1960s. These windows show images such as Christ in Majesty, the Virgin Mary, and St Paul, along with symbols of the City of London. A vestibule connects the church to the tower, and below the church is an old crypt from the 11th century, now used as a café.

Music

Organ

The church has had organs since 1802. The first organ had 13 parts called "stops" and two "manuals." In 1867, more parts were added. In 1880, a new, bigger organ with 33 stops and three manuals was made. This organ was moved for safety during World War II.

After the war, in 1964, the organ was made smaller, keeping only 18 of the original stops. In 2010, a new organ with 34 stops and two manuals was finished. There is also a small chamber organ with one manual and five stops.

Bells

History

Early bells

The bells at St Mary-le-Bow are very famous. A story says that in 1392, Richard Whittington heard the bells and returned to the city. The first written record of the bells is from 1469. In 1515, money was given for a big bell to ring each evening. By 1552, there were five bells and two smaller ones. In 1666, the Great Fire of London damaged the bells and tower.

After the fire, new bells were made and hung in the rebuilt tower. In 1738, the biggest bell was remade. In 1762, two more bells were added, making ten. In 1881, two more bells were added, making twelve. In 1933, Harry Gordon Selfridge paid to fix the old bells. But in 1941, during World War II, a bomb hit the church, and the bells fell and were broken.

Post-war restoration

After the war, new bells were made in 1956 and hung in 1961. They were dedicated by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The bells are often rung by bell ringers from around the world.

Specification

In popular culture

The bells are famous and are often used to decide if someone is a true Londoner or a Cockney — someone born within hearing distance of the bells. Over time, with more buildings and noise, the bells can now only be heard in parts of the city. The bells are mentioned in the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons". They are also used in songs and by sports teams like West Ham United F.C.

The Academy of St Mary-le-Bow

The Academy of St Mary-le-Bow is a London chamber orchestra that started in 2016. They give concerts at the church.

Bells of St Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, EC2
No.	Name	Weight (cwt-qrs-lbs)	Weight (kg and lb)	Note	Diameter (inches)	Acrostic text
1	Katherine	5-3-21	302 kg (666 lb)	G	27+3⁄4	Ps 96: "Declare his glory among the heathen…"
2	Fabian	5-3-10	297 kg (655 lb)	F	29	Ps 50: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me…"
3	Christopher	6-1-7	321 kg (708 lb)	E	30	Ps 148: "His name alone is excellent…"
4	Margaret	6-2-17	338 kg (745 lb)	D	32	Ps 29: "In his temple doth every one speak of His glory."
5	Mildred	7-3-27	406 kg (895 lb)	C	34	Ps 104: "The glory of the Lord shall endure forever"
6	Faith	8-3-27	457 kg (1,008 lb)	B	35	Ps 138: "They will sing of the ways of the Lord…"
7	Augustine	10-0-20	517 kg (1,140 lb)	A	38	Ps 145: "I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty."
8	John	12-1-11	627 kg (1,382 lb)	G	41	Ps 115: "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory."
9	Timothy	17-3-17	909 kg (2,004 lb)	F	46	Ps 29: "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name…"
10	Pancras	21-2-23	1,103 kg (2,432 lb)	E	49	Ps 145: "Thy saints shall bless thee."
11	Cuthbert	29-1-5	1,488 kg (3,280 lb)	D	5	Ps 86: "O Lord my God, I will glorify Your name forevermore."
12	Bow	41-3-21	2,131 kg (4,698 lb)	C	61+1⁄4	Lk 2: "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace…"
All bells have the Whitechapel Bell Foundry roundel cast upon them, together with the date of their recasting (1956).
Sources:

Services

St Mary-le-Bow serves the financial industry and livery companies in the City of London. Because of this, the church has services on weekdays, not Sundays. Each day, there are short prayer sessions at 8:30 am and 5:45 pm, lasting about 15 minutes. There are also two longer services on Wednesday at lunchtime and on Thursday evening.