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St
Andrew
Undershaft
Church
is
a
Grade
I
listed
building
&
is
in
St
Helen's
Parish.
It
is
likely
one
the
most
photographed
churches
in
London,
as
most
people
contrast
between
the
new
and
old
buildings.
The
Church
is
the
3rd
one
built
in
1532.
The
1st
was
built
circa
1147
to
one
source
where
other
records
claim
it
was
built
in
1220.
A
2nd
Church
was
built
in
the
14th
century.
The
initial
two
Church's
had
a
larger
footprint
and
extended
under
Fitzwilliam
House
at
10
St
Mary's
Axe.
It
is
of
tudor
style
and
restored
back
in
the
1800's.
Most
of
the
building
fabric
is
original.
The
upper
tower
is
of
portland
stone
which
differs
from
the
remaining
stone
walls.
The
tower
has
six
bells.
Two
support
buttresses
perhaps
not
intentionally
serve
to
guide
its
congregation
towards
its
main
entrance.
A
2nd
entrance
exists
on
the
opposite
side.
It
has
ornate
surrounds
of
sandstone
to
windows
&
both
entrance
doors.
The
craftsmanship
of
stone
detailing
over
the
west
entrance
is
splendid.
A
unusual
blue
circular
clock
exists
within
a
diamond
shaped
perimeter.
It
has
castellated
parapet
walls.
Internally,
stone
columns
&
fluted
arches
exists.
A
square
patterned
timber
ceiling
exists
where
as
the
timber
floor
may
have
been
replaced
in
the
past.
A
beautiful
organ
dates
back
to
1696.
It
had
one
of
London's
few
surviving
large
stained-glass
windows
from
the
great
fire
in
1666
&
World
War
ll
bombing
blitz.
In
1992
the
stained
glass
window
was
destroyed
from
an
explosion.
A
couple
of
London's
past
Lord
Mayors,
famous
painter
Hans
Holbien
and
historian
&
author
John
Stow
are
buried
here.
In
1598-1603
John
wrote
"A
Survey
of
London"
based
on
properties.
A
monument
of
John
exists
within
the
church.
John
was
well
read
&
appears
to
be
self-thought
and
truthful.
His
home
was
raided
by
authorities
a
couple
of
times
due
to
idle
gossip
&
reports
lodged
by
locals.
Authorities
found
rumours
were
false.
John's
later
commissioned
work
was
requested
by
the
King
James
I.
John
never
lived
long
enough
to
enjoy
the
benefits
of
this
project
and
died
in
1605. John
advises
St
Mary's
Axe
name
was
derived
from
"the
signe
of
an
Axe,"
over
/
against
the
east
end
of
the
church. A
document
during King
Henry
VIII
reign describes
"An
axe,
one
of
the
two
that
was
used
on
eleven
thousand
Virgins
which
were
beheaded
with."
This
act
was
carried
out
in
Cologne
around
/
after
21st
Oct
383
AD
which
is
Saint
Ursula's
feast
day.
St
Ursula
(a
former
Princess)
&
her
friend
were
returning
back
to
Britain
from
a
pilgrimage
to
Rome
with
11000
hand
maids.
A
Hundish
Chief
&
his
party
of
men
did
not
take
rejection
when
none
of
the
maids
or
Urusla
would
marry
him.
Ursula
was
killed
by
an
arrow
to
the
throat.
The
mass
grave
was
uncovered
in
Cologne
in
1155.
St
Andrews
Church
used
to
be
opened
frequently
decades
ago
when
curiosity
got
the
better
of
me
to
pay
a
visit.
It
is
opened
now
for
limited
periods
for
workshops
arranged
by
nearby
St
Helens
Church.
It
is
worth
a
visit
if
you
can
book
into
a
workshop
reading
arranged
at
St
Helen's
Church.
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