St Mary Aldermary is Wren's most Gothic church and the impressive tower is clearly seen from all around, but trying to get a picture of the whole building proved impossible in this heavily built up area.
The tower is a survivor of the Great Fire and is probably much as it was when built in about 1510. Inside Wren gave the building a light and airy feel which has led to St Mary being called the earliest Gothic Revival church in London. It includes a ceiling with a lovely and unique fan tracery made of plaster. It is now one of the so-called 'Guild Churches', that is a church without a parish but serving the weekday needs of the City workers.
St. Mary Aldermary in Bow Lane, was an ancient Foundation erected before the coming of the Normans, and therefore it has been called Older Mary, as being the Older Church of St. Mary in the City of London, to distinguish it from the neighbouring St Mary le Bow.
Milton and his third wife, Elizabeth Minshull, were married here in 1663.
In addition to the church, I appear to have captured a jet passing overhead!
Digital photograph
Visitors to this album since June 2003
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