Churches of East London

The East End of London grew up outside the city walls beyond the Tower of London in the mediaeval era, with villages beyond. The Docks brought commerce and labour to the area and in the massive growth of the metropolis in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, hitherto isolated settlements beyond Stepney became merged into East London. Waves of immigrants moved in from all over the country and abroad, overcrowding was rife and the mediaeval parish churches, such as St Dunstan’s Stepney, which features in the rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’, were supplemented by Georgian and Victorian buildings, including work by famous designers such as Nicholas Hawksmoor and Sir John Soane.

Churches of East London reveals the variety of historic church buildings in East London and their significance, from the mediaeval period, through the Georgian and Victorian periods and into the modern era. These unique buildings have special architectural, artistic, historic and social interest and have represented their local areas for centuries, not only the Anglican churches but also Roman Catholic buildings. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of East London over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or wish to know more about this area.