St Dunstan's, Stepney, Anglican parish church in Stepney, England
St Dunstan's in Stepney is a Grade I listed church with walls of Kentish ragstone, a substantial tower, and large windows from the fifteenth century. The building sits on a seven-acre churchyard containing numerous historical graves from different periods.
The site was founded in 952 when Bishop Dunstan replaced a wooden structure with a stone church. Since then it has maintained an unbroken history of religious activity.
The church bells were cast at the nearby Whitechapel Bell Foundry and are connected to the English nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons. This connection has made them part of local culture and folklore.
The church grounds are freely accessible, allowing visitors to explore the site and graves at their own pace. It helps to wear comfortable shoes as the churchyard is extensive and has uneven ground throughout.
The church was known as the Church of the High Seas because it traditionally registered births for children born at sea. This unusual practice made it an important place for sailors and their families from many nations.
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