St Michael Paternoster Royal, Grade I listed church building in City of London, England
St Michael Paternoster Royal is an English Baroque church in the City of London with rectangular Portland stone walls, round-headed windows decorated with cherub keystones, and a notable steeple. The steeple was added between 1713 and 1717 and forms the most distinctive part of the exterior.
The church was first recorded in 1219 as St Michael of Paternosterchierch, and the original building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Christopher Wren designed the rebuilt structure, which became part of the city's reconstruction after the fire.
The stained glass windows by John Hayward show religious scenes with St Michael battling Satan and other biblical figures throughout the interior. These works shape how visitors experience the space and tell stories of faith as light passes through the colored panes.
The building now serves as headquarters for the Mission to Seafarers with spaces for both maritime services and traditional worship. Visitors should note that the spaces are actively used and may not always be open for casual viewing.
In 1949, a mummified cat was discovered inside the walls during a search for Richard Whittington's remains, adding an unexpected chapter to the building's story. Whittington himself was buried near the altar in 1423, revealing how different layers of history became intertwined within this space.
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