St George in the East

St George-in-the-East is an Anglican church on Cannon Street Road in London’s East End, between The Highway and Cable Street. Built between 1714 and 1729, it is one of six churches designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor in London. The church stands on the site of the original Wapping-Stepney parish, which once covered the same area. Behind the building lies St George’s Gardens, the old graveyard. The church’s distinctive towers are known as ‘pepper-pot’ towers. During the Second World War Blitz in May 1941, a bomb destroyed the interior but left the walls and towers standing. The church has a long history of community work and notable figures. The first rector, William Simpson, served from 1729 until 1764. He was followed by Herbert Mayo, who was praised for his care of local seafaring communities, including black and mixed-race residents. In the 1850s, tensions arose between the rector and a Low Church lecturer appointed by the Bishop of London, leading to disturbances. The church was rebuilt in 1964 with a modern interior while preserving the original walls. The Centre for Theology and Community now operates from the East Crypt. Visitors find a striking mix of old and new. The modern interior sits inside the surviving 18th-century walls and towers. The church’s exterior remains a powerful example of Hawksmoor’s architecture. St George’s Gardens, the former graveyard, offers a quiet space behind the building. The church has appeared in films and television, including The Long Good Friday and Killing Eve. Its history reflects the changing life of the East End, from its maritime past to its modern community role.