St Stephen Walbrook with St Benet Sherehog, London Genealogy

England London  London Parishes  St Stephen Walbrook with St Benet Sherehog

Parish History
St Stephen Walbrook with St Benet Sherehog, the church of, is situated at the north east corner of Walbrook, and is dedicated,...to the patronage of St Stephen. There is mention in ancient records of a church dedicated to the same saint, near this spot, but on the opposite side of the brook, prior to 1135. In 1432, Robert Chichelely, Mayor of London, purchased the ground now occupied by the present church and cemetery of the Grocers' Company, and the new church was finished in 1439. In 1432, Robert Whittington, Citizen and Draper, Knight of the Bath, purchased the advowson from the Duke of Bedford. From him, it passed into a family named Lee, one of whom presented to it in 1474, and afterwards gave it to the Grocers' Company in whom the patronage has remained ever since. The old church was destroyed by the great fire of 1666, and the present church much celebrated edifice erected [in] its place, by Sir Christopher Wren. This church is reckoned by many persons to be Wren's masterpiece...The plan is extremely simple...75 feet by 56 feet...If any doubt the excellencies of Wren as an architect of the first class, let him study and analize this javel of our art--and find fault if he will--but let him first endeavor to surpass it. This church has been repaired twice...wisely restored and preserved...but...not...improve[d]. The parish of St Benet Sherehog (which see) was united to this church after the fire of London, and these united parishes form a rectory; but as the living of St Benet's came to the crown at the dissolution of monasteries, the Lord Chancellor and the Grocers' Company present alternately. It is in the City, archdeaconry and diocese of London...

St Stephen Walbrook Parish was part of Walbrook Ward.

White's 1904 history of St. Stephen Walbrook church has been digitized:


 * White, J.G. History of the Ward of Walbrook in the City of London: Together with an Account of the Aldermen of the Ward and of the Two Remaining Churches, St. Stephen, Walbrook, &amp; St. Swithin, London Stone, with Their Rectors. 1904. Digital versions at Google Books; Internet Archive.

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the government, from July 1837 to the present day. The civil registration article tells more about these records. There are several Internet sites with name lists or indexes. A popular site is FreeBMD.

Church records
To find the names of the neighboring parishes, use England Jurisdictions 1851. In this site, search for the name of the parish, click on the location "pin", click Options and click List contiguous parishes.


 * Bannerman, W. Bruce and W. Bruce Bannerman. The Registers of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and of St. Benet Sherehog, London. Part I. London, 1919. Digital version at Internet Archive. (chr. 1557-1790, marr. 1557-1754, bur. 1557-1716)
 * Bannerman, W. Bruce and W. Bruce Bannerman. The Registers of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, and of St. Benet Sherehog, London. Part II. London, 1920. Digital version at Internet Archive; another Internet Archive copy. (United Parish of St. Stephen's Walbrook and St. Benet Sherehog chr. 1790-1860, marr. 1754-1860, bur. 1716-1860)

1582 Subsidy

 * 1582 London Subsidy Roll, Wallbrook Ward - St Stephens Parrishe, courtesy: British History Online

1638 Inhabitants List

 * Inhabitants of London in 1638 - St Benet Sherehog, courtesy: British History Online
 * Inhabitants of London in 1638 - St Stephen's Walbrooke, courtesy: British History Online

1666 Hearth Tax

 * Hearth Tax: City of London 1666 - St Benet Sherehog, courtesy: British History Online
 * Hearth Tax: City of London 1666 - St Stephen Walbrook, courtesy: British History Online

Add unique information about the censuses. Add links to online census records, and/or link to the Family History Library

Contributor: Include an overview if there is any unique information, such as the census for X year was destroyed. Add a link to online sites for indexes and/or images. Also add a link to the Family History Library Catalog showing the film numbers in their collection.

Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to London Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

Poor Law Unions
Contributor: Add information about the pertinent poor law unions in the area.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps are a visual look at the locations in England. Gazetteers contain brief summaries about a place.


 * England Jurisdictions 1851
 * Vision of Britain

Web sites

 * London Family History Centre Catalogue (St Benet Sherehog Parish records)
 * London Family History Centre Catalogue (St Stephen Walbrook Parish records)
 * Sketch of St Stephen Walbrook Parish Church, courtesy: London Ancestor
 * Society of Genealogists Library Catalogue (to narrow results, conduct subject searches for 'London St Benet Sherehog' or 'London St Stephen Walbrook')