St Katherine Cree, London Genealogy

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St Katherine or Catherine Cree, the church of, is situated at the southeast angle of Cree Church Lane, in Leadenhall Street. It is dedicated to the same virgin St. and martyr as the preceding [St Katherine Coleman Parish], and is distinguished from other churches of the same name by the addition of Cree, the ancient English method of spelling Christ, as pronounced by the French, having been built on the site of a dissolved priory, whose church was called that of our Saviour Christ. They therefore dedicated it to St. Catherine, and added the original name of the priory by way of distinction. Henry VIII, in his grant of the priory to Sir Thomas afterwards Lord Audley, gave him also the patronage of the church. Upon the death of this noble man he bequeathed it to the master and Fellows of Magdalen College, Cambridge, and their successors, when he enjoined to serve cure for ever. That corporation least out the impropriation to the parish for 99 years; but a dispute arising between the college and the parish at the expiration of the set lease in 1725, about a renewal, Elise was granted to Jerome Knapp, Esq., a citizen and haberdasher of London, and an agreement, which was confirmed by act of Parliament in 1727, was entered into concerning a commutation in loop of tithes. The present structure was erected in 1630, it is built of stone in a mixed and in cure style. The length of the body is 90 feet, the breadth 51, and height 37. Maitland...[said] that the church is a curacy, and that the parishioners have the privilege of electing their own minister, who must be licensed by the Bishop of London. But the Clerical Guide, which must be of authority, says that it is a vicarage and still in the gift of the master and Fellows of Magdalen College, Cambridge...

[Adapted from: Topographical Dictionary of London by James Elmes; published 1831]