Building    From 952 

St Dunstans, Stepney

Categories: Religion

Records of this church go back to AD 952. Until the 14th century it was the only church in east London. The existing 15th century building is the third on the site, though it was reclad in 1880s. The porch and octagonal parish room were added in 1872. Suffered some bomb damage in 1945.

The port of London nearby, this church has many associations with sailors and was once known as 'the Church of the High Seas'. Sometimes the red ensign, or 'red duster', the flag of the merchant navy, is flown from the tower. An old tradition is supported by a rhyme: ""He who sails on the wide sea, Is a parishioner of Stepney." Seems the church was happy to enter births at sea into their register, but paupers from distant parts expected it to apply to their ocean-born children as well and there the church drew the line.

".... When will that be, say the bells of Stepney" - that's the bells in this tower speaking.

The church website has a good gallery of historic pictures, and is our picture source, but disappointingly no textual history of the church.

From London Gardens Online: "The churchyard closed for burials in 1854 and most of the tombstones and headstones were removed between 1885 and 1887 when high ground around the church was dug away. The MPGA then converted the burial ground into a public garden ... 1887".

2018: A London Inheritance explores this church, with many images.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
St Dunstans, Stepney

Commemorated ati

St Dunstans gates - 1844

This small plaque is on the inner gate pier to the left of our photo. From Lo...

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St Dunstans gates - 1999

This small plaque is on the inner gate pier to the right of our photo. We li...

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St Dunstans - noticeboards

We were reading this board and deciding it really was not interesting enough ...

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Other Subjects

Kingston Spiritualist Church

Kingston Spiritualist Church

Our photo of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle officiating at the church's opening comes from a previous incarnation (appropriate expression?) of the Kingston Spiritualist Church website. Now, 2020, there is ...

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4 memorials
John Patteson

John Patteson

Instituted as Rector of Christ Church Spitalfields on 15 Feb 1856 and still there in 1867. Not to be confused with John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia (1827 – 1871). Our colleague Andrew ...

Person, Religion

1 memorial
William Tyndale

William Tyndale

First translator of the New Testament into English from Greek, burned as a martyr at Vilvorde in Belgium. The last words of William Tyndale were "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes". Within a y...

Person, Religion, Belgium

1 memorial
Henry Geard

Henry Geard

One of the Deacons at the Wandsworth chapel who provided lectures and popular entertainments during the week for the working classes.  Active in 1883.

Person, Religion

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Hanseatic merchants

Hanseatic merchants

See the Steelyard.

Group, Commerce, Germany

1 memorial
Carol Paula Chapman

Carol Paula Chapman

Trustee, fundraiser and volunteer of the Charles Dickens Museum. The 2004 book 'Shakespeare's Non-Standard English: A Dictionary of His Informal Language' by Norman Francis Blake was dedicated "In...

Person, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Dr Margery Blackie

Dr Margery Blackie

SW7, Thurloe Street, 18

English Heritage Dr Margery Blackie, 1898 - 1981, homeopathic physician, lived and worked here 1929 - 1980.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Virtues - Compromise

Virtues - Compromise

WC2, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery - Staircase Hall - North Vestibule

We initially thought this odd scene may refer to one of Loretta Young's films, but no.  The image contains a number of puzzling elements ...

1 subject commemorated
WW2 aircraft crash

WW2 aircraft crash

UB7, Harmondsworth Moor, Middle Meadow

The crash plaque is attached to a large chunk of granite - a piece of the John Rennie Waterloo Bridge (source: Colne Valley Park). And a...

War dead | WW2
11 subjects commemorated, 2 creators