St Mary-le-Bow church was originally built about 1080 by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. The stone came from Caen and is the same as in the nearby Tower of London.
A tradition has it that people born within the sounds of its church bells (Bow Bells) are Cockneys.
The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the church. It was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren then destroyed during World War II in 1941. It was rebuilt in reopened in 1964. Below ground, the crypt dates to 1080 and is one of the oldest rooms in London.
Church sign below the Bow Street sign.
Nearby is the churchyard.
Captain John Smith preached here about the settlements in Virginia. His statue is in the courtyard.
John Smith above and text below the statue
A wall plaque marks refers to the birth of John Milton
A view of the western door
And entrance in the courtyard
History of the Church on AMAZON and elsewhere
Google Map of St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside
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