St Matthew Friday Street

St Matthew Friday Street was a baroque church located on the west side of Friday Street near Cheapside in the City of London. The building featured rubble walls with a stone-faced eastern wall and tower, with entrances accessed through narrow alleyways on its north and south sides.

The church appeared in records from the 13th century before being destroyed during the Great Fire of 1666. It was rebuilt by Christopher Wren's office in the early 1680s following that major fire.

The place got its name from fishmongers who lived on the street, and its dedication to Saint Matthew was the only one of its kind in London. This connection to the local trade community shaped how people understood the space.

The building was one of Wren's smaller churches and required access through narrow passageways from multiple sides. Visitors should know the structure was demolished in 1885 and no longer stands today.

The church featured an ornate reredos created by sculptor Edward Pearce, which was relocated to Polesden Lacey House in Surrey after the building was demolished in the 1800s. This carved screen remains one of the few surviving elements from the original interior decoration.

Location: City of London

Architects: Christopher Wren

Architectural style: baroque architecture

GPS coordinates: 51.51360,-0.09556

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:45