Commission for Building Fifty New Churches
Encyclopedia
The Commission for Building Fifty New Churches (in London
and the surroundings) was an organisation set up by Act of Parliament
in England
in 1711, with the purpose of building fifty new churches for the rapidly growing conurbation of London. It did not achieve its target, but did build a number of churches, which would become known as the Queen Anne Churches.
The specific enactment was the New Churches in London and Westminster Act 1710 (9 Anne c. 17).
, with John James, Thomas Archer
and James Gibbs
also participating.
St Mary Woolnoth
was rebuilt from 1716-24.
The Commission funded in part five other churches – St George Gravesend, St George the Martyr Southwark
, St Giles in the Fields
, St Mary Magdalen Woolwich
and St Michael, Cornhill
. It bought and altered St George the Martyr Holborn
and bought St John Clerkenwell
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the surroundings) was an organisation set up by Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1711, with the purpose of building fifty new churches for the rapidly growing conurbation of London. It did not achieve its target, but did build a number of churches, which would become known as the Queen Anne Churches.
The specific enactment was the New Churches in London and Westminster Act 1710 (9 Anne c. 17).
Churches built
Most of the churches were designed by Nicholas HawksmoorNicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor was a British architect born in Nottinghamshire, probably in East Drayton.-Life:Hawksmoor was born in Nottinghamshire in 1661, into a yeoman farming family, almost certainly in East Drayton, Nottinghamshire. On his death he was to leave property at nearby Ragnall, Dunham and a...
, with John James, Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer
Thomas Archer was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. Archer was born at Umberslade Hall in Tanworth-in-Arden in Warwickshire, the youngest son of Thomas Archer, a country gentleman, Parliamentary...
and James Gibbs
James Gibbs
James Gibbs was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England...
also participating.
- Christ Church SpitalfieldsChrist Church SpitalfieldsChrist Church, Spitalfields is an Anglican church built between 1714 and 1729 to a design by Nicholas Hawksmoor. Situated on Commercial Street, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, on the eastern border and facing the City of London, it was one of the first of the so-called "Commissioners'...
Hawksmoor 1714-29 - St Alfege's Church, GreenwichSt Alfege's Church, GreenwichSt Alfege Church is a Church of England place of worship in the town centre of Greenwich in the eponymous London Borough.-History:The church is dedicated to, and reputedly marks the place where Alfege , Archbishop of Canterbury, was killed by Viking raiders on 19 April 1012.The second church built...
Hawksmoor 1712-18 - St Anne Limehouse Hawksmoor 1714-30
- St. George's Church, BloomsburySt. George's Church, BloomsburySt George's, Bloomsbury is a parish church in Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden, United Kingdom.-History:The Commissioners for the Fifty New Churches Act of 1711 realised that, due to rapid development in the Bloomsbury area during the latter part of the 17th and early part of the 18th...
Hawksmoor 1716-31 - St George in the EastSt George in the EastSt George in the East is an Anglican Church and one of six Hawksmoor churches in London, England, built from 1714 to 1729, with funding from the 1711 Act of Parliament...
Hawksmoor 1714-29 - St George's, Hanover Square James 1720-25
- St John HorsleydownSt John HorsleydownSt John Horsleydown was the Anglican parish church of Horsleydown in Bermondsey, London.-The church:The church built between June 1727 and 1733 in Fair Street , as one of the last churches built for the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches...
Hawksmoor and James 1727-33 - St. John's, Smith SquareSt. John's, Smith SquareSt John's, Smith Square is a church in the middle of Smith Square, Westminster, London. Sold to a charitable Trust as a ruin following firebombing in the Second World War, it was restored, the internal layout altered somewhat, and is now used as a concert hall....
Archer 1713-28 - St Luke Old StreetSt Luke Old Street (church)St Luke is a historic Anglican church building in the London Borough of Islington. It is now a music centre operated by the London Symphony Orchestra and known as LSO St Luke's. It is the home of the LSO's community and music education programme LSO Discovery...
Hawksmoor and James 1727-33 - St Mary le Strand Gibbs 1714-23
- St Paul Deptford Archer 1713-30
St Mary Woolnoth
St Mary Woolnoth
St. Mary Woolnoth is an Anglican church in the City of London, designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, located on the corner of Lombard Street and King William Street near the Bank of England.- Early history :...
was rebuilt from 1716-24.
The Commission funded in part five other churches – St George Gravesend, St George the Martyr Southwark
St George the Martyr Southwark
St George the Martyr is a church in the historic Borough district of south London. It lies within the modern day London Borough of Southwark on Borough High Street at the junction with Long Lane, Marshalsea Road, and Tabard Street....
, St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields
St Giles in the Fields, Holborn, is a church in the London Borough of Camden, in the West End. It is close to the Centre Point office tower and the Tottenham Court Road tube station. The church is part of the Diocese of London within the Church of England...
, St Mary Magdalen Woolwich
St Mary Magdalen Woolwich
St Mary Magdalen Woolwich is an Anglican church dedicated to Mary Magdalen in Woolwich, sited at the extremity of a spur reaching northwards towards the Thames...
and St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill
St Michael, Cornhill is a medieval parish church in the City of London with pre-Norman Conquest parochial foundation. The medieval structure was lost in the Great Fire of London and the current church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670-1677....
. It bought and altered St George the Martyr Holborn
St George the Martyr Holborn
St George the Martyr Holborn is an Anglican church located at the south end of Queen Square, Holborn, London Borough of Camden. It is dedicated to Saint George, and is so-called to distinguish it from the later nearby church of St...
and bought St John Clerkenwell
St John Clerkenwell
St John Clerkenwell is a parish church in Clerkenwell, London. It is housed in a rebuild of the old Priory church of Clerkenwell Priory , purchased by the fifty new churches....
.