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The original church to stand
on this site, built in the 12th century, may have been named
'up church' because it was upstream from its then-owner the
Priory of St Mary Overie, now Southwark Cathedral.
The present building dates from
1681 - 86, and is a restored Wren church, one of the 51 churches
built in London by the prolific architect after the Great
Fire of 1666.
The simple Dutch-influenced red-brick
exterior of the building conceals the magnificence of the
interior. Wren's marvellous shallow dome, painted by
William Snow, gives the building an unusually spacious feel.
Beneath the dome is some splendid
17th century woodwork, including the the carved limewood reredos
created by Grinling Gibbons. This superb altar screen
is the only example in the City to be definitely attributed
to the 17th century master carver
Admission free
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Cannon Street