Churches in Aldgate

John Stow’s ward-by-ward list of parish churches names three churches in Aldgate Ward: Saint Katherine Christs Church (Stow 1633, sig. O4r), Saint Andrew Vndershaft (Stow 1633, sig. O4v), and S. Katharine, called Coleman (Stow 1633, sig. P1v). MoEML however, links four churches to entries in our encyclopedia. This discrepancy is the result of different ways of thinking about the churches: Stow lists active parishes (institutions), whereas our map shows physical buildings on particular sites. Although Holy Trinity Priory (the progenitor of St. Katherine Cree) had been dissolved in 1531–1532, its buildings remained on the site just north of the parish church of St. Katherine Cree (or St. Katherine Christ Church). On the Agas map, the complex of buildings formerly belonging to Holy Trinity Priory is labelled Crychur, even through the buildings were now owned by various merchants and courtiers. Just south of this complex, on Leadenhall Street, stands the parish church of St. Katherine Cree.
Our encyclopedia has separate entries for St. Katherine Cree and for Holy Trinity Priory (Christ Church), but the two institutions have an entwined history.

Timeline

St. Andrew Undershaft was on the western edge of the ward, on the west side of St. Mary Axe Street and behind a row of houses that fronted the north side of Aldgate Street. It was right across the street from the former St. Mary Axe, which had been given to the Parish of St. Andrew (Undershaft) in 1565.
St. Katherine Coleman was in the southern half of the ward, on the south side of Fenchurch Street.

References