St. Michael Paternoster Royal

St. Michael Paternoster Royal

On the east side of College Hill at No. 20 at its junction with College Street. In Vintry Ward (P.O. Directory).

The parish extends into Dowgate Ward.

Earliest mention: "St. Michael of Paternosterchierch," 3 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2387). "Pater Noster cherche," 1241–2 (ib. 7824). "St. Michael of Paternostres cherche," c. 1276 (ib. A. 7823). "S. Michael in the Riole," 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 41). "S. Michael in the Roialle called Whittyngdons College," 1508–9 (ib. 614). "St. Michael called Whytyngton Colledge, alias St. Michael Pater Noster alias St. Michael in the Royall," 3 Ed. VI. (Lond. I. p.m. I. 109).

In 11 H. IV. 1409, part of a vacant plot of land in the street called "le Ryole" in the parish of St. Michael Paternosterchirche was granted to John White, parson of the church, to build anew a parish church to St. Michael the Archangel with a cemetery (Cal. P.R. H. IV. 1408–13, p. 152).

The church to be larger than the present small, dilapidated church (Cal. L. Bk. I. pp. 77–78).

New built and made a college of S. Spirit and S. Mary founded by Richard Whittington, Mercer, Mayor (S. 244).

Letters patent granted for the foundation, 3 H. VI. (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1429–36, p. 214).

Whittington buried there.

Church repaired and beautified 1630 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 5).

No new monuments since the rebuilding, except to T. Coulson (ib.).

Burnt in the Fire, rebuilt and finished 1694 (ib. 6).

Strype describes it as in his day a curious Free-stone building with Battlements and a lofty towered steeple (ib. 13).

A Rectory. Patrons: The Mercers' Company and now the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. A peculiar of Canterbury (ib.).

After the Fire, the parish of St. Martin Vintry was united to it.

Newcourt says it was always in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, and that the Mercers' Company only nominated the Master of Whittington's College until its suppression by Henry VIII. (I. p. 409).

Named "in the Royal" from the street of "La Riole," in which it was situated (q.v.).

It may have been called Paternoster church after the makers of Paternosters, who probably had their shops in Paternoster church lane.

St. Michael Royal Church.

On the E. side of what we now call College hill (from Whittington's College there) in the Ward of Vintry, within the Walls on London: To which is united, per Act of Parliament, the Parish of St. Martins in the same Ward; but part of St. Michael's Parish is also in the Ward of Dowgate.

II. It is so called from the Angel to which it was (as aforesaid) dedicated, and from its being situate in the str. formerly called Tower Royal (as that near it now is) a strong Tower being there built, about Anno 1120, where several Kings, and the Mother to Richard the 2d have lodged (says Stow) when it was also called the Queen's Wardrobe.

III. The Church was founded, and made a Collegiate Church of St. Spirit and St. Mary, for a Master, 4 Fellows (Masters of Arts) Clerks, Conducts, &c. by Sir Richard Whitington, Mercer, Lord Mayor of London, the Years 1397, 1406, and 1419; also he founded a Hospital for 13 poor Men, one of them to be Tutor, and to have 16 d. the others 14 d. per week for ever, with other Necessaries. This was called Whitington College, and Divinity Lectures were to be read there for ever. He also gave 400 l. toward a Library in Gray fryars: His Executors (at his charge) repaired St. Bartholomew's Hospital, bare some Charges toward glasing and paving Guildhall, and a Library there; and builded Newgate.

His Arms; A Fess Counter-campony, with an Annulet for a difference.

St. Martins Church was built, in the Year 1399, at the charge of Matthew Columbars.

His Arms; A Chevron betn 3 Columbines.

Both the said Churches being reduced to Rubbish by the Flames, in 1666, St. Michael's was only re-erected, which was finished in the Year 1694. …

XI. The contents of the Parish of St. Michael's Royal, is,

On College hill, from 1 House Sd of Elbow lane end Nd to Cloke lane, and 2 Houses on the S. side of that Lane. And on the W side College hill, it extends from within 3 Houses of the foreside of St. Thomas Apostles to Maiden lane Sd, with the N. side of that Lane. And on the E. side of Queen str. from Maiden lane Nd 4 Houses; and on the W. side of Queen str. from Halford's Coffee-house to the back part of Deputy Eyre's House, with part of that House. Also the S. part of Chequer inn, and fronting Dowgate hill, the 3d, 4th, and 5th Houses Sd from the Inn gate; and on the W. side of Dowgate hill, 4 Houses Sd from Elbow lane, and all the S. side of that Lane, and all the N. side (except 4 Houses next Dowgate) and in Little Elbow lane 3 Houses on the E. side, and 5 on the W. in all which Places composing this Parish, are 53 Dwelling-houses.

St. Martin Vintry contains:

In Little Elbow lane, 3 Houses on the E. side, and 4 on the W. next to Thames str. also Joiners hall alley; and from that Alley fronting the Water-side, it extends to Little Cheapside, and the E. side of that str. thro' Vintners hall into Thames str. And in Queen str. from the Water-side both sides of the way to Maiden lane to Thames str. and on the S. side of Thames str. from Vintners hall Wd to Joiners hall, including part of them Halls; and on the N. side of Thames str. it reaches from Little Elbow lane to Queen str. including the corner Houses; also Emperhead lane, Brickhill lane, with all Alleys, Courts, &c. in this compass; comprizing 130 Houses within this Parish.

[St. Michaels Royal Church..] This Church of St. Michaels Royal is a curious Free-stone Building, having Battlements with turned Pillars, with a lofty towered Steeple of Free-stone.

It is a Peculiar of Canterbury, the Wardens of the Company of Mercers were the Patrons; The Church was destroyed in the general Conflagration: and is now rebuilt as aforesaid: to which Parish is that of St. Martins in the Vintry united.

St. Michael Royal, on the east side of College hill, in Vintry ward, is thus denominated from its being anciently near the Tower Royal. This was a parish church before the year 1285, when it was under the patronage of the Prior and Canons of Canterbury, in whom it continued till it was converted into a college by Sir Richard Whittington, mercer, four times Lord Mayor, who rebuilt the church; but even then the monks of Canterbury so far continued its patrons, as to present a person nominated by the Master and Wardens of the Mercers company. This church being consumed with the other public buildings by the fire of London, the present structure was erected in its room, and the parish of St. Martin Vintry united to it. Newc. Rep. Eccles. Stowe's Survey.

This structure is a plain, decent, and substantial stone building, enlightened by a single series of large arched windows, placed so high that the doors open under the level of their bottoms. The tower consists of three stages, and at the top is surrounded with carved open work instead of a balustrade: from hence rises a light and elegant turret adorned with Ionic columns, and ending in a fine diminution, which supports the fane.

This church is one of the thirteen peculiars belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Rector, besides his other profits, receives 140 l. a year in lieu of tithes. Among the several monumental inscriptions, was one in memory of the above Sir Richard Whittington.