St Martin Ludgate, London Genealogy

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St Martin Ludgate, the church of, is situated on the north side of Ludgate Street, between Stationers Hall Court and the Old Bailey [Sessions]. It is so named from being dedicated to the before mentioned St. Martin, and it's contiguity to the ancient Ludgate. The patronage of his church was originally in the Abbot and convent Westminster, and continued with him till the suppression of that monastery by Henry VIII, who erected Westminster into a bishopric, and conferred it on the new Bishop. The see, however, being dissolved by Edward VI, Queen Mary his successor granted the advowson to the Bishop of London and his successors, in whom it still remains.

The ancient church was destroyed by the great fire in 1666, after which the present church was erected for the designs of Sir Christopher Wren. It is a rectory in the city, diocese and archdeaconry of London,and in the patronage of the Bishop of London.

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