The church's website [visit link] tells us:
The first stones of the new Church
were laid on 17th December, 1672, by the Lord Mayor of London, the Lieutenant of
the Tower of London, one of the Chicheley family, six members of the Court of
the Grocers' Company (patrons of the Church), the Rector, two churchwardens and
four other parishioners. Two months later the Vestry gave Wren 'or his lady' a
silk purse with twenty guineas for 'his great care and extraordinary pains taken
in contriving the design of the Church' - the usual formula for the person who
designed a building, indicating that the design had been finalised. Wren's chief
draughtsman was given five guineas; like Wren, he had been working
simultaneously on designs for the Church as well as for St. Paul's
Cathedral.
The whole London building trade was now working at full
capacity, and it was still five years before the roofing of the Church was
complete. In 1678 the high box pews were installed; Wren had allowed for their
height in the high bases of the sixteen internal columns. The pews and font,
like William Newman's font cover, pulpit, reredos and western screen, introduced
in 1679, were paid for not out of the coal tax but by private
subscriptions.
The portico to the north, which was never built, was
intended to have colonnades on either side, continuing down the sides of the
market place, at the opposite end of which was placed on 29th May, 1672, a
marble equestrian statue of Charles II on a high pedestal, the gift of Sir
Robert Viner. The sculpture is now resited at Newby Hall near Ripon. Wren may
well have had in his mind that this open space should resemble the Forum of
ancient Rome.
On 27th May, 1679, the Vestry planned a dinner for the
architect, masons and joiners, as the Church was ready for use. The steeple was
not built until 1713-1717; it closely resembles the steeples of St. James
Garlickhythe and St. Michael Paternoster Royal.
The church is a Grade I listed building
with the entry at the English Heritage website [visit link] telling us:
"1672 to 87 by Wren. Rectangular body
with stone columns supporting large, plaster dome with barrel-vaulted arms
(additional bay to west) and flat ceilings to corner compartments. West lobby
and porch (plus vestry and tower to north) extend to street frontage. Plain
exterior of ashlar, rubble and brick, partly rendered, with simple cornice and
blocking. Round-arched, circular and elliptical windows. Recessed clerestory.
Copper roofed dome arid lantern. Plain tower in 4 stages of squared stone with
dressings and part refacing of Portland stone. Crowning cornice and balustrade,
and open, stone steeple in 5 diminishing stages with weather vane and order of
Ionic columns to lowest stage. New, enclosed staircase at base of north side of
tower. Corniced porch, with round-arched entrance and enriched elliptical
opening above. Stone steps inside rise to corniced doorway. Interior has order
of Corinthian columns and pilasters, on low pedestals, with rich entablature. 8
arches support the coffered dome and lantern, all with plaster enrichment.
Clerestory windows segmentally arched or lunettes. Pavement and some fittings of
Cl9 date but following are original: fine wainscot with benching, reredos (with
Cl9 pediment), communion table and rails, pulpit and tester, west gallery with
organ and doorway below, font and cover. Large, later C18 altar piece by
Benjamin West, now in north transept. Good wall
monuments."
The church holds events on Thursdays and
Fridays as listed in the church website [visit
link]:
"Weekly Sung
Eucharist
Thursdays at
12.45pm
Classical Masses
Sung by the St Stephen's
Choir
Followed by a light lunch
Friday Organ
Recitals
Fridays at
12.30pm
Organ Recital
Given by visiting organists with a
varied programme of works often taking into account the season of the church in
the programme.
Recitals are free and you are welcome to bring your
lunch.
There will be a retiring
collection"