St Bride's Church, City of London

St Bride's Church is a baroque place of worship on Fleet Street, City of London, designed by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666. The white limestone tower rises 69 meters (226 feet) high and shapes the skyline with its tiered form.

A church has stood on this site since the sixth century, when an early Christian community chose this location. After the Great Fire, Wren laid the foundation for rebuilding in 1670, completing the design with its distinctive tower in 1703.

The churchyard served for centuries as a burial ground for printers and journalists, reflecting its close ties to the publishing houses of Fleet Street. Today, memorial plaques and inscriptions recall this literary tradition.

Access to the crypt is through a narrow stone staircase in the northwest corner of the interior. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, as the ancient floors are uneven.

The tower's form is said to have inspired pastry chef Thomas Rich to create tiered wedding cakes when he ran his bakery across from the building. Many Londoners still jokingly refer to this architectural style as a wedding cake spire.

Location: City of London

Inception: 1670

Architects: Christopher Wren

Architectural style: English Baroque

Address: Fleet Street, London

Website: https://stbrides.com

GPS coordinates: 51.51378,-0.10575

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26