St Mary Magdalene Old Fish Street with St Gregory by St Paul, London Genealogy

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St Mary Magdalene Old Fish Street with St Gregory by St Paul, the church of, is situated on the north side of Knightrider Street at the west corner of the Old Change. Its name is derived fromthat of the saint to which it is dedicated, and its situation in the ancient fish market. This church was formerly a vicarage, in the tenure of the canons of St Paul's, so early as 1181; but for some centuries past, it has been a rectory in the gift of the minor canons of that cathedral. The old church was destroyed at the time of the great fire of 1666, as well as its neighbour St Gregory [by St Paul's] which is at the southwest corner of St Paul's Cathedral. This latter is a rectory of very ancient foundation, and took its name from Pope Gregory the Great, who sent St Austin the Monk to convert the English nation to Christianity. The church was rebuilt in 1685 by Sir Christopher Wren. The patronage of this church is also in the minor canon's of St Paul's Churchyard, and the two parishes united by act of parliament.

The united parishes are a rectory in the city of London, and exempt from archidiaconal visitation, the patrons being its ordinaries [no notable 'officials' or people belonged to the church].

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