St Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall, Guildhall Yard, City of London, London, EC2V 5AA
St. Lawrence Jewry next Guildhall, established around 1136 in the City of London, is named for its proximity to the former medieval Jewish quarter ‘Old Jewry’, which developed after the Norman Conquest. King William the Conqueror encouraged Jews, particularly from Rouen, to settle in England, creating a significant Jewish community in London, in Old Jewry and near the Tower of London. This Jewish presence was economically and socially substantial until the closure of all synagogues in 1290. The Edict of Expulsion issued by Edward I on 18 July 1290 expelled all Jews from the Kingdom of England and permanently banned their presence. The edict was overturned 365 years later, and the first London synagogue, Bevis Marks, was built only by the end of the 17th century.
The church’s dedication to Saint Lawrence, a 3rd-century Christian martyr, highlights his commitment to aiding the poor and his resistance to Roman authority. Serving under Pope Sixtus II, Saint Lawrence is renowned for presenting the poor as the church’s true treasures during Roman persecution. This led to his martyrdom in 258 AD on a gridiron, a symbol often associated with him.
Significantly transformed after the 1666 Great Fire of London, St Lawrence Jewry was reborn under Christopher Wren’s architectural vision, similar to many other City baroque churches, and was completed in 1677. Its elaborate interior, however, has not endured through the years. The 1940 Blitz left the church heavily damaged, necessitating a restoration in the 1950s by Cecil Brown, who aimed to maintain the essence of Wren’s designs. A notable feature of the church is its tower, marked by a metal gridiron, representing its dedication to Saint Lawrence. Additionally, the church is close to the remains of a 2000-year-old Roman forum under the Guildhall Gallery
