Inventory Site Record

A church dedicated to St Clement, a C1st Roman converted to Christianity, was recorded here in a charter of 1067, the locality called Eastcheap by reason of the medieval market or 'Cheap' that served the east of the City. Celebrated lectures on the Creed were delivered here in the later C17th by Bishop Pearson, who became Bishop of Chester and at one time Henry Purcell was organist. The church had been rebuilt in 1658 but was destroyed in the Great Fire and rebuilt by Wren in 1683/87, one of the smallest of his parish churches. The parish was joined by that of St Martin Orgar whose site became the burial ground for the parishes. The former churchyard of St Clement survives as a raised garden with entrance gate and C18th-style railings on the alleyway of St Clement's Court on the north side of the church.

Site location:

St Clement's Court/Clement's Lane

Postcode:

EC4N 7AE

What 3 Words:

sudden.comet.lucky

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

City of London

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

weekdays, as church (to check times)

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Tube: Bank (Central, DLR, Northern, Waterloo & City) / Monument (Circle, District).

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2010

Last minor changes:

29/03/2026

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.london.anglican.org

A church dedicated to St Clement, a C1st Roman converted to Christianity, was recorded here in a charter of 1067, the locality called Eastcheap by reason of the medieval market or 'Cheap' here serving the east of the City. Nearby and within the parish of St Clement, Shakespeare set his 'Boar's Head Tavern' frequented by Prince Hal and Falstaff; in the early C15th Eastcheap 'was noted as the residence of cooks . . and was resorted to by those who desired to dine or sup' (Godwin) rather than having a tavern, although a Boar's Head is referred to in church records of the early C18th. In 1637 its rector was Dr Benjamin Stone of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, who was removed from office and imprisoned under Cromwell for Papist views, finally restored in 1660 when Charles II took the throne. Celebrated lectures on the Creed were delivered here in the later C17th by Bishop Pearson, who became Bishop of Chester and is represented in the west window. At one time Henry Purcell was organist here. The church had been rebuilt in 1658 soon after which it was destroyed in the Great Fire. It was rebuilt by Wren in 1683/87, one of the smallest of his parish churches, and the parish was joined by that of St Martin Orgar (q.v.), the site of which latter church becoming the burial ground for the two parishes. St Clement's was later altered in 1872 and 1889 by Butterfield and again in the 1930s by Sir Ninian Comper.

The former churchyard survives as a raised garden reached from steps with an entrance gate and C18th-style railings on the alleyway of St Clement's Court on the north side of the church. Largely paved, there are a number of tombs, trees and shrubbery.

Sources consulted:

Simon Bradley & Nikolaus Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London 1: The City of London', 1997 (1999 ed.); George Godwin & John Britton 'The Churches of London: A history and description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis, Volume II', London, 1839; Philip Norman, 'The London City Churches, Their Use, Their Preservation and Their Extended Use', The London Society, (1920s) London Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches data

Grid ref:

TQ328809 (532880,180880)

Size in hectares:

0.0142

Site ownership:

Diocese of London

Site management:

Church

Date(s):

medieval; 1683-87

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBI: St Clement's Church

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Bank

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Strategic View - Consultation Area

St Clement Eastcheap Churchyard, June 2010. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.