All Hallows Church

All Hallows by the Tower Church
All Hallows by the Tower is one of the oldest Christian churches in London. Originally called All Hallows Berkyngechirche, it was founded in 675 by the Abbey of Barking, four hundred years before the building of the Tower of London. The present building is a fascinating mixture of architectural styles - starting with the Saxon, through Norman, Crusader, Mediaeval, seventeenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Unlike many churches in the City of London, All Hallows by the Tower remained unscathed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was not, however so lucky in 1940 with the Blitz of World War II.
A bomb damaged the east wall, then three weeks later fire bombs burnt down much of the church, leaving the tower, the north and south walls and part of the east end. The church was rebuilt, complete with new spire, and dedicated by the Bishop of London in July 1957 in the presence of HM The Queen Mother. The parish is currently building an extension to the Church of All Hallows to be known as "The All Hallows Queen Mother Centre". It will have a public restaurant, exhibition area and bookshop, and will greatly enhance the church's ministry among the business, tourist and resident communities on and around Tower Hill. Today, All Hallows by the Tower continues its over 1300 year history of Christian worship, and welcomes visitors and tourists from all over the world. Services are held regularly; visit their website for further information (www.allhallowsbythetower.org.uk). The parish of All Hallows by the Tower has included St. Dunstan's in the East since World War II.
St. Dunstan's in the East
St. Dunstan's in the East, a beautiful church designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was built following the Great Fire of London. A church was first built on this site in Saxon times, and was restored by St. Dunstan in 950. The mediaeval church was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666, which started only four streets away in Pudding Lane. St. Dunstans was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren between 1697 and 1702. Only the tower remains of the Wren church. The body of the church was demolished and rebuilt by David Laing in 1817 in the gothic revival style. St. Dunstan's was badly damaged in 1941 during the Blitz of World War II. The tower has been restored and now houses The Wren Clinic, a centre for complementary medicine in the City. It also retains a consecrated chapel in which services can be held. The walls of the nave were left standing, within which the City Corporation have created a beautiful garden with seating and a fountain for visitors.
St Dunstan
St. Dunstan was born near Glastonbury early in the tenth century and lived during a period of monastic revival after the defeat of the Danes. While a Benedictine monk at Glastonbury he became skilled in the crafts, particularly metalwork, which may explain why the Goldsmiths' Company chose him as its patron saint. Besides being an accomplished musician and illuminator Dunstan was also reputed to have been interested in science, concocting brews liable to explode! Possibly this gave rise to the legend of his meeting with the devil, whose nose he is said to have seized with a pair of tongs. Hence the tongs borne by sculptured angels over the altar of the Chapel of Ease on Idol Lane. St. Dunstan was made Abbot of Glastonbury in 940 and from 960 when he became Archbishop of Canterbury, he exercised great influence over King Edgar and his court. He was canonised shortly after his death in Canterbury in 988.