St. Katherine Cree

Not to be confused with St. Katherine, Aldgate, St. Katherine Cree was an old parish church located on the north side of Leadenhall Street between Aldgate and St. Mary Axe. It was in Aldgate Ward. The first record of the church is dated 1280 (Harben 327). According to a 1414 decree by the Bishop of London, the church was built so that the priory canons, who had previously shared Christ Church with the laity, had a separate place to worship (Harben; Weinreb and Hibbert 778). Stow reports that the church was so old that one had to descend seven steps to enter it. He also adds that the church’s steeple and bell tower, built in 1504, were the most recent additions (Stow). St. Katherine Cree is also known by the names St. Katherine and the Blessed Trinity and St. Katherine Christ Church. The Church is drawn on the Agas map and is labelled Cry Chur.

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