The main entrance to the church is down a narrow
cobble-stoned lane called St Anne's Passage. This gated entrance, and others,
were chained shut on a Saturday at 0830 and again at 1130 although a notice on
the gate says that this is the gate to use. There is no indication to say when
the gate is open and when the church can be visited.
On the right-hand gatepost, when facing the church, is a
plaque that reads:
"Limehouse Parish Church
St Anne's was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor 1661-1736
and consecrated in 1730 as one of twelve churches erected through the 1711 Act
of Parliament a grand scheme to build 50 new churches. The church was destroyed
by fire in 1850 and restored by the architect Philip Hardwick: 1851-4.
Hawksmoor was born in Nottinghamshire and was the pupil and assistant of Sir
Christopher Wren and collaborated with Sir John Vanbrough. Other churches in the
area include St Mary Woolnoth, St George-in-the-East and Christchurch
Spitalfields. In his six London churches Hawksmoor showed himself to be one of
the great masters of English Baroque Architecture."
The church's website (visit
link) gives some more history and features of the church:
"St Anne's was built between 1714-1727, one of the
twelve churches built through the 1711 Act of Parliament. The church is named
after Queen Anne, who initiated the scheme and raised money for it by imposing a
tax on coal coming up the River Thames. The church was designed by Nicholas
Hawksmoor, who was Sir Christopher Wren’s assistant. St Anne’s Church was
successfully consecrated in 1730 and still has an active congregation today.
The church was gutted by fire on Good Friday 1850. It
was restored between 1851 and 1854 by Philip Hardwick. The roof and tower were
restored further in 1983 and 1993, when tubular steel trusses were added to
support the roof. The church was Grade I listed in 1950. St Anne's underwent
extensive restoration during 1999–2009, which included complete restoration of
the churchyard, the organ, and the front end of the church.
St Anne’s Church has a long-standing connection to the
Royal Navy, and its current Rector is honorary Chaplain to the Royal Navy. Its
clock is the highest church clock in London, and was designed as a special
maritime clock for shipping on the Thames: it chimed every 15 minutes to guide
the 6000 ships that moored in the docks every day. These days, it chimes every
hour. Above the clock, there is a golden ball, which until recently was a
Trinity House sea mark for navigating the Thames. The battle ensign of the
recently decommissioned HMS Ark Royal is on display inside the church. We were
honoured to host HRH Prince Michael of Kent for the laying up ceremony. To find
out more about St Anne's Church's connection to the Royal Navy, and about the
ensigns, please click here.
From time to time, the church building features in a
number of television programmes. In 2012, St Anne's was featured in the BBC
series 'Call The Midwife' (Episode 6).
Features of St Anne’s Church
To find out about bells and bell-ringing in St Anne's,
please click here.
The pipe organ in St Anne's was designed by Graham
Davison. It won the Council Medal (first prize) in the Great Exhibition of 1851
at Crystal Palace. It was fully restored in 2009. In 2009, the church became the
main rehearsal venue for the recently formed
Docklands Sinfonia Orchestra,
and occasionally hosts classical concerts.
The floor is made of Portland Stone, which is the same
stone used for the facade of Buckingham Palace. Underneath the stone is the
original brickwork from Queen Anne’s time. The aisle is made of Yorkshire stone.
The window at the front of St Anne’s Church is made of
enamelled glass rather than stained glass, giving it a glowing effect. It is now
in poor condition due to the combined effect of WWII damage, gravity and London
pollution. The church plans to restore it as part of an ongoing restoration
program.
A distinctive pyramid, originally planned to be put on
one of the corners at the east end of the building, now stands in the churchyard
and is Grade II listed. The church is next door to Limehouse Town Hall which is
now used as a community centre."
The church is a Grade I listed building and its entry at
English Heritage (visit
link) reads:
"1712-30 - Nicholas Hawksmoor architect. White ashlar
on high plinth. Rusticated corners. Eaves cornice with 2 short eastern towers
with 3 oblong lancets each. Blocking course. Square crypt windows. 7 round
arched windows above. Flights of steps approach northern, southern and western
doors. Western lantern tower predominant in the local scene and from the River
Thames. Fine interior.
The Garden Wall to former St Anne's Rectory, Limehouse
Town Hall, St Anne's Parish Church, Churchyard Walls, Railings, Gates, Gate
Piers and War Memorial form a group with No 2 and Nos 11 to 23 (odd) Newell
Street and the Limehouse Church Institute, Three Colt Street."