Inventory Site Record

St Andrew Undershaft stands on Leadenhall Street at the junction with St Mary Axe, with what remains of its former churchyard to the north. It became known as St Andrew Undershaft in the C15th in reference to the shaft or maypole set up each year by the south door, a practice that continued until 1 May 1517. The maypole hung under the eves of nearby cottages in Shaft Alley until 1549 when it was finally destroyed, declared idolatrous by the curate of St Katharine Cree. Among those buried here were John Stow (d.1605), author of the famous 'Survey of London', a regular worshipper here; and Mary Datchelor (d.1725), a great benefactor of the parish. The small raised churchyard garden is railed, with two memorial seats, a tree, small flower beds and a number of slate tombstones set into the paving.

Previous / Other name:

St Andrew-super-Cornhill; St Andrew-atte-Knappe

Site location:

Leadenhall Street/St Mary Axe

Postcode:

EC3A 6AT

What 3 Words:

rider.showed.cliff

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

City of London

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted; Church open by arrangement with St Helen's Bishopsgate

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Events in church

Public transport:

Tube: Aldgate (Metropolitan, Circle)

Citymapper    
Google Map    
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Research updated:

01/06/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces

St Andrew Undershaft stands on Leadenhall Street at the junction with St Mary Axe, with what remains of its former churchyard to the north of the church, now a small paved garden. In 1565 the parish of St Mary Axe had been joined with that of St Andrew when it was abolished in the Reformation. St Andrew's churchyard was in existence by 1363. Originally called St Andrew's-super-Cornhill, Leadenhall once being a continuation of Cornhill, it became known in the C15th as St Andrew Undershaft in reference to the shaft or maypole which was set up each year by the south door. This practice was continued until 1 May 1517 when there was serious rioting, instigated by a fracas on the 28 April between some London Apprentices and a number of foreigners. At that time foreigners were carrying out various trades in the City and were unpopular with the inhabitants who accused them of injuring their own businesses. It is reputedly this maypole that Chaucer referred to when describing a vain boaster who bears his head 'as he would bear the great shaft of Cornhill'. The maypole remained hanging under the eves of cottages in Shaft Alley near the church until 1549 when it was finally destroyed, following an inflammatory sermon by the curate of St Katharine Cree, who called the maypole an Idol. The church was also known as St Andrew-atte-Knappe, possibly referring to the socket or Knappe for the maypole.

St Andrew's Church dates from at least the early C12th and has a C15th tower. It was largely rebuilt in 1520-32, paid for by two Lord Mayors, Sir Stephen Jennings and Sir William Fitzwilliams, and another Lord Mayor, Sir Christopher Clitherow, presented the church in 1637 with a fine East Window. Sir Christopher, who was also Master of the Ironmongers' Company, Governor of the East India Company and President of Christ's Hospital, was buried here; his window was moved to the west end when the church was restored in 1875-6 by A Blomfield whose brother was rector. The font of 1634 is by Nicholas Stone, Master Mason to James I and Charles I. Among the monuments to those buried here is that of John Stow (d.1605), 'Citizen, Tailor and Historian, author of the famous 'Survey of London' who regularly worshipped here; a John Stow Memorial Service was (is) held annually and each year the Lord Mayor places a new quill pen in the hand of the figure of Stow in his monument.

The churchyard has a tomb to Mary Datchelor and her sisters with a monument to the family in the church; Mary Datchelor (d.1725) was a great benefactor of the parish and is known for the school for girls she founded in Camberwell. Hans Holbein the painter to Henry VIII lived in the parish but was buried in St Katharine Cree (q.v.) The railed churchyard garden is raised, with two memorial seats, one in memory of George Kimberley Perkins, Deputy, who represented the Ward of Aldgate 1957-74 and the other to Mrs Frances Godfree, member of the church 1925-51. There is one tree, small flower beds and a number of slate tombstones set into the paving. The church was badly damaged by terrorist bombs in 1992 and 1993, repaired in 1994/5.

Sources consulted:

B. Cherry and N. Pevsner, 'The Buildings of England, London Vol. l: The Cities of London and Westminster', London, 1985; 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 I', London, 1838; Philip Norman, 'The London City Churches, Their Use, Their Preservation and Their Extended Use', The London Society, (1920s); Church history leaflet, 1937; London Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches data

Grid ref:

TQ332812 (533241,181187)

Size in hectares:

0.0254

Site ownership:

Diocese of London

Site management:

City of London Corporation Open Spaces Dept.

Date(s):

C12; C14, C16, 1883

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBI: St Andrew Undershaft Church; LBII: Gates and railings to church on St Mary Axe

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:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None

St Andrew Undershaft Church, June 2010. Photo: S Williams

Click a photo to enlarge.