Christ Church Greyfriars, Historic church ruins in City of London, England
Christ Church Greyfriars is a church ruin in the City of London that today consists of a freestanding tower and a public garden. The rectangular footprint is traced by low stone walls, while rose beds and benches structure the open space.
Franciscan monks founded a monastery here in the 13th century, which closed during the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. After the Great Fire of London, Christopher Wren rebuilt the church in the 1680s before it burned out during World War II.
The church grounds contain burial sites of four medieval queens, including Queen Isabella and Queen Margaret of France, reflecting its royal connections.
The garden is accessible daily and lies a few minutes' walk northeast of St. Paul's Cathedral on Newgate Street. Visitors can view the tower from outside, while the garden itself invites rest.
Four medieval queens, including Isabella of France and Margaret of France, lie buried beneath the garden. The wooden posts in the rose garden recall the original position of stone columns in Christopher Wren's nave.
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