St Pancras, Soper Lane, was a parish church in the

City of London The City of London, also known as ''the City'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and Districts of England, local government district with City status in the United Kingdom, city status in England. It is the Old town, his ...

, in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. Of medieval origin, it was destroyed in the

Great Fire of London The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through central London from Sunday 2 September to Wednesday 5 September 1666, gutting the medieval City of London inside the old London Wall, Roman city wall, while also extendi ...

in 1666 and not rebuilt.

History

St Pancras, Soper Lane, was in the Ward of Cheap, City of London.'Cheape warde'
A Survey of London, by John Stow: Reprinted from the text of 1603 (1908), pp. 258-276. The street from which it took its name was renamed after the Great Fire, although sources vary as to whether it became Queen Street or Pancras Lane. The church was first built in the twelfth century. It was a small building, with a tower containing five bells. There was a chapel on the north side. Though small, the parish had some wealthy residents, and the church received various benefactions. In 1617 it was presented with a monument commemorating

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...

by Thomas Chapman. In 1621 the renovation of the building was financed by a group of benefactors, including Chapman, and a porch was added in 1624, paid for by Chapman's son. The patronage of the church belonged to the prior and chapter of

Christ Church, Canterbury Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Kent, it is one of the oldest Christianity, Ch ...

, until 1365, when they granted it to the

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...

. There was a parsonage house on the corner of Pancras Lane and Queen Street; in 1670 it was leased out for 40 years, at an annual rent of £2.

Destruction

Along with the majority of churches in the City, St Pancras, Soper Lane, was destroyed in the

in September 1666. It was not rebuilt; instead the parish was united with those of

St Mary-le-Bow The Church of St Mary-le-Bow () is a Church of England parish church in the City of London, England. Located on Cheapside, one of the city's oldest thoroughfares, the church was founded in 1080, by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. Rebuilt s ...

and All Hallows, Honey Lane. The rebuilt St Mary-le-Bow served as the church for the united parishes, and the site of St Pancras was retained as a graveyard.

History

Destruction

References

Further reading