Parish of St Alban, Wood Street, City of London , Church of England

Parish of St Alban, Wood Street, City of London , Church of England

The church of Saint Alban, Wood Street, was constructed on the supposed site of the chapel of King Offa, the 8th century ruler of Mercia, who founded Saint Alban's Abbey. The churchyard was used by the Barber-Surgeons' Company for the burial of dissected felons. The church was rebuilt in 1633 but burned down during the Great Fire of 1666. It was reconstructed by Wren to the same design in 1685-85, although a tower was added in 1697. After a bombing raid in 1940 everything except the tower was destroyed. The ruins were demolished in 1955, leaving the tower.

After the 1666 Great Fire, Saint Olave, Silver Street, was united with the parish of Saint Alban's; and in 1894 Saint Michael, Wood Street was united with Saint Alban's.

Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).