St Mary-le-Bow is a historic church in the City of London, located on Cheapside, one of the city’s oldest and most important streets. The church’s long and rich history dates back to the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is famous for its bells, which are said to define who is a true Londoner or Cockney. It is also a masterpiece of architecture, designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666.
The Origins of St Mary-le-Bow
The first church on the site was founded by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1080. Lanfranc was William the Conqueror’s archbishop from Normandy and wanted to assert Norman authority over London. He built three significant buildings in the city: St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and St Mary-le-Bow.

The original church was built from Caen stone from Normandy, the same stone used for the Tower of London. The architect for both buildings was Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester, who may have also designed St Mary-le-Bow. The church had a unique feature: a lower undercroft partially below street level and an upper church above it. The lower church had round stone arches, which were new and innovative. These arches gave the church its name: “le-Bow” comes from the Old English word “boga”, meaning “arch” or “bow”.
The church was a prominent landmark in medieval London and witnessed many historical events. In 1196, William Fitz Osbert, a populist leader who advocated for the rights of the poor, was captured and dragged to the church by a mob. He was then hanged from a gibbet outside the church. In 1271, Henry III’s son Edward (later Edward I) married Eleanor of Castile at the church. In 1298, Edward I held a parliament at the church to celebrate his victory over the Scots at Falkirk.
The Rebuilding of St Mary-le-Bow
The medieval church was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666, which ravaged most of London. Only the tower and part of the walls survived. The task of rebuilding the church was given to Sir Christopher Wren, the most famous architect of his time. Wren had a grand vision for rebuilding London after the fire, and St Mary-le-Bow was one of his most important projects.
Wren designed a new church that was more extensive and elegant than the old one. He used Portland stone for the exterior and wood for the interior. He gave the church a tall spire that rose to 223 feet (68 metres), making it one of the highest in London. He also added a new set of bells, cast by John Warner & Sons in 1671. The bells were hung in a wooden frame, allowing them to swing freely and produce a loud and clear sound.
Wren’s church was completed in 1680 and cost over £15,000, making it his second most expensive project after St Paul’s Cathedral. It was widely admired for its beauty and harmony. Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary: “I up to see Sir W. Pen … and there with him to see St Mary-le-Bow Church; which is very fine”. John Evelyn praised Wren’s work as “a new manner introduced into England”.
The Legacy of St Mary-le-Bow
St Mary-le-Bow has played an important role in London’s culture and identity. The church bells are famous for their distinctive sound and association with Cockney culture. According to tradition, anyone born within earshot of the bells is a true Cockney.
The bells also feature in the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons”, which mentions several churches in London.
Another legend says that Dick Whittington heard the bells calling him back to London when he was about to leave the city in 1392. He later became Lord Mayor of London four times.

The church has also been a centre of intellectual and social activity. It hosted lectures and debates on various topics, such as religion, science, philosophy and politics. One of the most famous lectures was the Boyle Lectures, founded by Robert Boyle in 1691 to defend Christianity against atheism. The church also established JustShare, a coalition of churches and charities that promotes social justice and global development.
The church has survived several threats and challenges over its history. It was damaged by bombs during the Blitz in 1941, which destroyed most of its interior and caused its bells to fall. It was restored by Laurence King from 1956 to 1964, who followed Wren’s original design as closely as possible. It was also damaged by an IRA bomb in 1992, which shattered some of its windows, and it was repaired again with new stained glass windows designed by John Hayward.
St Mary-le-Bow is still an active parish church today, serving a diverse community of worshippers and visitors. It is also a Grade I listed building of exceptional historical and architectural interest. It is one of Wren’s finest creations and one of London’s most iconic churches.
Summary
St Mary-le-Bow is a historic church in the City of London on Cheapside. It was founded by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1080 and rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666. It is famous for its bells, which define who is a true Cockney. It has hosted many lectures and debates on various topics and has survived several bombings. It is one of Wren’s finest creations and one of London’s most iconic churches.