St Dionis Backchurch, Baroque church in City of London, England
St Dionis Backchurch was a baroque church in the City of London, featuring Ionic columns that supported a classical entablature. The nave rose beneath an arched vault, while the side aisles had flat ceilings that created distinct interior zones.
This place of worship existed before 1288 and remained standing for centuries until the Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed it completely. Christopher Wren designed its replacement, which was built in 1674 and stood until demolition in 1878.
The name 'Backchurch' came from its location behind another church, marking it as a parish church for the local community. It served for centuries as a spiritual center for people living in this part of London.
Nothing remains standing at this location today, but a commemorative plaque opposite number 24 Lime Street marks where the building once stood. You can view the plaque in the City of London where modern structures now occupy the site.
Beneath the Wren-built church lay a crypt dating to the 15th century that had survived underground through the centuries. This hidden vault persisted until the building's demolition in 1878 and likely held remains and objects from medieval times.
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