St Dunstan's in the East
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The church was built about 1100 in the gothic style. It was severely damaged in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Rather than being completely rebuilt, the damaged church was patched up between 1668 and 1671. A steeple, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was added 30 years later. This was unusual in that Wren designed it in the gothic style, to match the old church. There is a story that during a storm someone once hurried to tell Wren that all of his steeples had been damaged. 'Not St. Dunstan's,' he replied confidently. While German bombs destroyed the rest of the church, the steeple again proved Wren correct. By the early 19th century the church was in a very poor state. It was rebuilt between 1817 and 1821 by David Laing, with assistance by William Tite. Wren's steeple was retained in the new building. The church was severely damaged in the Blitz of 1941, during the Second World War. In the re-organisation of the Anglican Church in London following the War it was decided not to rebuild St Dunstan's. In 1967 the Corporation of London decided to turn the ruins of the church into a public garden. This was opened in 1971. Wren's tower and steeple survived the bombs intact and now house the offices of a small health clinic. Of the rest of the church only the north and south walls remain. A lawn and trees have been planted within the ruins and a low fountain sits in the middle of the nave. The gardens are claimed to be the most beautiful public gardens in the City of London. The tower and adjoining All Hallows house are now used as a complementary medicine centre (The Wren Clinic). |
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St
Dunstan-in-the-East was an Anglican church located on St Dunstan's Hill,
half way between London Bridge and the Tower of London in the City of London.
The church was destroyed in the Second World War and the ruins are now a public
garden.