St Anne and St Agnes is a small gem of a church opposite Postman's Park, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London.
The first written record of a church here comes from 1137, and early medieval records seem to be confused over the dedication, sometimes referring to St Anne-in-the-Willows, and sometimes to St Agnes. The double-dedication became commonly used only in the 15th century.
Fire was always a danger to medieval and Tudor buildings, and in 1548 St Anne and St Agnes was devastated by fire. It was rebuilt, and extended in 1624, but disaster struck in 1666 when the Great Fire of London almost completely destroyed the Tudor building. Only part of the 14th century survived the blaze. Sir Christopher Wren built a new church in 1680, incorporating what was left of the tower. Unusually for a Wren church, the design was based on a Greek cross, and the main material was red brick rather than stone. The ceiling is beautifully decorated, contrasting with dark oak furniture.
John Wesley preached here twice, and famous people who lived in the parish include the poet John Milton and the author John Bunyan.
St Anne and St Agnes was badly damaged by German bombs on 29-30 1940, and only reopened in 1966, when it served as a Lutheran church for the Latvian and Estonian communities in London. The interior is a mix of styles, with some features copied from the pre-war building, and other fittings brought to the church from other London churches not rebuilt after the war.
The Lutheran congregation moved to a new church in 2013, and the church is now home to the Gresham School of vocal excellence, run by the Voces Cantabiles Music charity to promote vocal music, particularly amongst young people. The Gresham Centre does not post opening times on their website, unfortunately, but if you're interested in seeing the rebuilt Wren interiors, why not just knock on the door during business hours!
1676 to 87 by Wren, incorporating lower part of mediaeval tower. Extensively reconstructed after World War II.
Square body arranged internally as Greek cross. West tower with vestry to north and lobby to south. Exterior of red brick with finely rubbed quoins and voussoirs etc. Timber eaves-cornice and hipped, slated roofs. 3 round-arched windows to each face the larger, central 1 rising into pedimented attic flanked by upswept parapet walls. Painted doorway at west end of south side with mask keystone to arch and rusticated pilasters supporting cornice. North elevation, tower and flanking outbuildings stuccoed. Tower plain with stone bands and parapet. Small, simple timber cupola with domed, lead covered roof and weather vane.
Interior has cross barrel vault supported on 4 Corinthian columns of timber on high pedestals. Arms of vault and flat ceiled corner compartments enriched, with circular panels to latter. High wainscot to walls and pedestals of columns, largely renewed. Fine reredos, pulpit (with modern base and stair), internal porch with figure of angel standing in broken pediment, Royal arms etc. Modern marble font with old carved cover. Pair of paintings of Moses and Aaron.