St Benet Paul's Wharf
| St. Benet Paul's Wharf | |
|---|---|
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| 51°30′42.01″N 0°5′57.38″W / 51.5116694°N 0.0992722°WCoordinates: 51°30′42.01″N 0°5′57.38″W / 51.5116694°N 0.0992722°W | |
| Location | Queenhithe, City of London, England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | Sir Christopher Wren |
| Style | Baroque |
| Completed | 1683 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
The Church of St Benet Paul's Wharf is a Welsh Anglican church in the City of London. Since 1556, it has also been the official church of the College of Arms in which many officers of arms have been buried. In 1666 it was destroyed in the Great Fire of London, after which it was rebuilt and merged with nearby St Peter's. The current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is one of only four churches in the City of London to escape damage during World War II.
St. Benet's traces its history back to the year 1111, when a church was built on the site and dedicated to St Benedict. Over time the name was abbreviated to St. Benet. To the west of the site was the watergate of Baynard's Castle, which is referenced in the biographies of Queen Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey. Both the church and the castle were destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was rebuilt by the architect Christopher Wren, and reopened in 1683.
On 2 March 1706, Henrietta Hobart married Charles Howard, 9th Earl of Suffolk, a captain in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons there. (Henrietta Howard subsequently became mistress to the future King George II.)
The church was narrowly saved from destruction in the late 19th century, when its parish was merged with that of St Nicholas Cole Abbey. After an energetic campaign by its supporters, Queen Victoria in 1879 granted the church to Welsh Anglicans for services. St Benet’s continues as London’s Metropolitan Welsh church, with its services conducted in the Welsh language, and with English translation provided.
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