St Peter upon Cornhill - Cornhill, London, UK - Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com

The church of St Peter is a Grade I listed building and its entry at English Heritage reads:
"1677 to 87, by Wren, incorporating base of mediaeval tower. Aisled body with tower to south-west and vestry north of it. North porch. Exterior much obscured by adjoining buildings. Tower of red brick; rest apparently of stone, now painted. North elevation has 3 enriched, round arched Windows rising above 2 storeyed shop building. High panelled attic. Porch set forward with segmentally arched doorway, pair of Ionic columns and piers, and parapet above entablature. South elevation plainer with corniced doorway beneath western window. East elevation arcaded and pilastered above high base. Pedimented attic with round arched and 2 circular windows etc. Tower, with dressings of moulded brick, has simple, round arched windows to 2 lower storeys and arcaded and pilastered belfry stage. Stone cornice and copper roofed done with lantern and spire. Interior has pilastered piers with high bases supporting arcade and plaster barrel vault (possibly renewed), and cross vaults to aisles. West gallery with organ. Original fittings include low reredos and panelling at east end, elaborate chancel screen, fine carved pulpit and tester, carved marble font with cover, doorcases plain wainscot etc."

Source English Heritage.

"A brass foundation plaque in this church claimed that the first Christian King in England, Lucius, founded the church in AD 179, although this claim is now generally disbelieved. The church is of early foundation, however, and was likely in existence by the twelfth century. By the thirteenth century there are records showing the church was used as sanctuary by an accused murderer. In 1243 one of the priests attached to the church was himself murdered, allegedly by a man called Walkien, who was the vicar of St Paul's.

During the medieval period a large library and a grammar school were attached to the church. The library was apparently attached to the tower of the church and was probably built of stone. By the late sixteenth century most of the books of the once well-stocked library had gone, and the library was being used as a schoolhouse.

The church depicted above was that built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London in 1666. (The church was in a state of some major disrepair prior to the fire, and plans were already underway for its rebuilding.) The tower is of brick, and has a small leaded cupola and spire, surmounted (in the eighteenth century) by a weather vane in the shape of an enormous key.

The east end of the church, in Grace Street, has a series of five arched windows between Ionic pilasters. The pilasters supports an entablature, above this is an attic story, and a gable containing many other windows. The interior consists of a nave and aisles, separated on either side by an arcade. The roof is arched, and springs from an attic story above the cornice. It is formed into square and circular panels by an ornamental band.

It is rumoured that once there was a subterranean passage leading from the church to an uncertain location, which was used by the 'London Tavern apprentices'. It was bricked up in the very early nineteenth century."

Source