St Mary Abchurch with St Lawrence Pountney, London Genealogy

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St Mary Abchurch with St Lawrence Pountney, the church of, situated near the south end of Abchurch Lane, Cannon Street, and derives its name and addition, from having been dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and Ab or Up church, from its greater elevation than most of its neighbourhood. A church, similarly dedicated, stood upon this site in very early times, for we find that in 1448, the patronage of it was in the Prior and Canons of St Mary Overy, but falling to the crown in the reign of Elizabeth, her majesty granted the perpetual advowson to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge...

The ancient church was destroyed by the great fire in 1666, and the present edifice erected shortly afterwards by Sir Christopher Wren. The parish of St Lawrence Pountney was united to this parish after the fire, and the church of that small parish was consequently not rebuilt.

The church is a rectory, in the city, diocese and archdeaconry of London, and in the patronage of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

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