Rector's office in the crypt of St Bride's Church on Fleet Street, City of Photo:Jeff Gilbert
St Bride's Church on Fleet Street in the City of London is the spiritual home of printing and media. The buildings most recent incarnation was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1672. Due to its location on Fleet Street the church has a long association with journalists and newspapers. The church is a distinctive sight on London's skyline and is clearly visible from a number of locations. Standing 69 meters high, it is the 2nd tallest of all Wrens' churches, with only 's itself having a higher pinnacle. It could well be on of the most ancient in London, worship perhaps dating back to the conversion of the Middle Saxons in the 7th Century. It has been conjectured that, as the patron saint is St Bridget of Ireland, it may have been founded by Celtic Monks. The present St Bride's is at least the seventh church to have stood on the site. Traditionally it was founded by St Bridget in the sixth or not she founded it personally, the remnants of the first church appear to have significant similarities to a church of the same date in Kildare, Norman church, built in the 11th century, was of both religious and secular significance; in 1210 King John held a parliament there. It was replaced by a larger church in the 15th century, but this burned down in the Great Fire of London in was replaced by Wren with one of his largest and most expensive works, taking seven years to build. The famous spire was added later, in originally measured 234 ft but lost its upper eight feet to a lightning strike in 1764. The design utilises four octagonal stages of diminishing height capped with an obelisk which terminates in a ball and vane. The church was gutted by fire-bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe during the London Blitz of the Second World War, on the night of 29 December 1940, dubbed the "Second Great Fire of London". It was rebuilt at the expense of newspaper proprietors and journalists.
Size: 4368px × 2912px
Location: St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, England, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Jeff Gilbert / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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