All-Hallows-the-Great

All-Hallows-the-Great was a church in the City of London, first recorded in 1235 on the site now occupied by Upper Thames Street. It stood near the Thames, where hay and rope were traded, giving it names like All Hallows in the Hay and All Hallows in the Ropery. The church served the German merchants of the Steelyard, who used it as their main place of worship. After the Great Fire of 1666, Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt it between 1677 and 1684. By the 19th century, the church was hemmed in by growing traffic and was eventually demolished in 1894. The church was known for its large cloister and grammar school, founded by Henry VI in 1447. During the Commonwealth, it became a centre for the Fifth Monarchy Men, a radical sect expecting the return of Christ. After the Fire, the parish combined with All-Hallows-the-Less, and a temporary wooden tabernacle was built in the churchyard. The rebuilt church had a plain exterior with round-headed windows and a tower that was later moved to the south side. Many of the church’s furnishings survive in other buildings. Its rood screen, Moses and Aaron statues, and pulpit were removed after demolition and can now be seen in St Margaret Lothbury and St Michael Paternoster Royal. The site was later occupied by a brewery, a telephone exchange, and now low-level offices. The rebuilt tower stood until 1964, marking the church’s final presence on the street.