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ST. STEPHEN, WALBROOK,

"THIS church, so little noticed by us, is famous all over Europe, and is justly reputed the master-piece of the celebrated Sir Christopher Wren. Perhaps Italy itself can produce no modern building that can vie with this in taste or proportion: there is not a beauty which the plan would admit of, that is not to be found here in its greatest perfection; and foreigners very justly call our judgement in question for understanding its graces no better, and allowing it no higher a degree of fame *."

The first account we have of the church of St. Stephen is from Dugdale's Monasticon, where it is recorded that Eudo, steward of the household to Henry I. gave the church of St. Stephen super Walbrook, to his new founded monastery of St. John, Colchester; and the abbot and convent presented to the living till the year 1422. Sir Robert Chicheley, Grocer, who had been lord mayor in 1421, gave in the year 1428, to the parish, a plot of ground, containing two hundred and eight feet and a half in length, and sixty-six feet in breadth, for the purpose of erecting a new church, and forming a church-yard. This plot had

* Critical Review of Public Buildings.

formerly

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Prawn by Gifford, Engraves by Mover & gring.

Interior of ST STEPHEN'S Walbrock?

Published by S. Stratford, 112 Mottern Hill March 14 8.

formerly belonged to Sir William Standon, who had also been twice lord mayor, but, with the adjacent houses, were purchased by Sir Robert, for the sum of two hundred marks.

Sir Robert Chicheley, in 1429, laid the first stone of the proposed fabric, on his own account, and a second in memory of Sir William Standon. He also gave the additional sum of 100%. and bore the charges of all the timber work, besides covering the new structure with lead, giving all the timber for roofing the side aisles, and defraying the expence of carriage. Thus, piously raised, the church was finished in 1439.

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In the next year, by an inquisition, it was found that Sir Robert Whitingham, knight of the bath, had purchased the patronage of this church in 1432 from John Duke of Bedford, uncle of Henry VI. and gave it to Sir Richard Lee, lord mayor in 1460. Having continued in the family of Lee for some time, it was about the year 1502 given by Richard Lee, Esq. to the Grocer's Company, who still continue patrons of the living.

The church was amply repaired at the expence of 5107. and upwards, by the parish, during the years 1622-1632; but shared the common fate, in 1666, and was levelled, except the steeple and bells. It was again rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren, and the parish of St. Bennet Sherehog united to it by act of parliament.

The walls and tower are stone; and the roof within over the middle aisle arched; in the centre of which is a spacious cupola, and a lantern; the roof over the rest of the church is flat, covered with lead, and supported by columns and pilasters of the Corinthian order; there are three aisles, and a cross aisle paved with stone; the ascent from the street is by fifteen steps,

The roof and cupola are adorned with an entablature and arches; ornamented by shields, palm branches and roses, of fret work, and pannels of crocket work. The walls are wainscoted ten feet high, having the Grocers arms within a handsome compartment of palm branches, &c. at the VOL. II. No. 49.

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north

north end of the cross aisle is a door-case, beautifully decorated with various kinds of fruit and leaves; at the northeast angle is another; and at the west end a third, very magnificent; adorned with two columns, entablature and pediment of the Corinthian order, enriched with cherubims, festoons, and the arms of Chicheley, of wainscot; the altar-piece is adorned with two columns, their architrave, frieze, and cornice of the same order; on the cornice are the arms of England, and underneath are figures of Moses and Aaron, with a radiance; above the Creed, &c. and Lord's Prayer, are two shields, with compartments and festoons, fruit, leaves, &c. gilt with gold; and on the northernly shield, are the arms, or, a chevron between three cinquefoils gules, for Chicheley. The communion table, which is a semicircle finely veneered, and carved, is placed on a foot-pace of black and white marble, and inclosed by a circular rail and banister, two steps of black marble, higher than the rest of the chancel. Over the altar is a most beautiful historical painting of the stoning of St. Stephen, painted by Benjamin West, Esq. late president of the Royal Academy, which fills up the whole of the large east window. To speak in adequate terms of this excellent effort of the classic pencil of Mr. West; whether we consider the sublimity of the subject, the chastity of the design, or the correctness of the execution; future times will confess that this performance will establish the reputation duly attached to the merit of the English school. The pulpit is also finely carved and veneered, and has enrichments of cherubims, cupids, festoons, and a lamp. Here is also a white marble font, whose type is curiously carved *.

The

* The principal beauties of this justly admired edifice are on the inside; where the dome, which is spacious and noble, is finely proportioned to the church, and divided into small compartments decorated with great elegance, and crowned with a lanthern, while the roof, which is also divided into compartments, is supported by very noble Carinthian columns, raised on their pedestals. On the sides under the lower roofs are only circular windows, but those which enlighten the upper roof are small arched ones; and at the east end are three very

noble

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