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Peta Bridle’s City Churches

April 29, 2024
by the gentle author

BOOKING NOW THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

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Peta Bridle introduces these splendid drawings from her most recent sketchbook

“If you take a stroll around the City of London you might catch the glint of a weathervane on a church spire rising above the narrow streets. Within the Square Mile are over forty churches as well as ten towers and remains, but there were once hundred and eight churches before the Great Fire, demolition works, and the Blitz. I used to attend services with two close friends to mark special events in the year. Over the past winter into this spring, I returned in all weathers to draw these beautiful and ancient places of worship.”

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St Bartholomew-the-Great, Smithfield

Founded in 1123, this church has chequered flint walls and an atmospheric medieval interior. Many years ago, I used to sit in the churchyard for consolation before starting my night shift at a grim workplace nearby.

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Prior Bolton’s Oriel Window, St Bartholomew-the-Great

There was just enough light to draw, sitting in the nave, with rain pattering against the window behind me and visitors whispering as they wandered around the church. The five-hundred-year-old Oriel Window was built by Prior William Bolton who was the Prior of St Barts in 1505. The prior constructed a lodging house at the end of the church so he and his household could watch services through the window from the comfort of his home. The barrel depicted at the base of the window is a pictorial pun on his name Bolton – a ‘tun’.

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St Andrew Undershaft, St Mary Axe

St Andrew’s was built in 1532 on top of a twelfth century church and survived the Great Fire and the Blitz, only to be hemmed in by huge towers including the  black glittering bulk of the Gherkin which looms overhead. The Elizabethan historian John Stow is buried in the church and every three years a memorial service is held and a new quill placed in the hand of his monument.

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Parish Clerk’s Offertory Bag, St Lawrence Jewry

I visited St Lawrence Jewry whilst it was undergoing restoration but I was able to draw and complete the collection bag on a little table in the church foyer. Water dripped continually outside the Side Chapel where the stonework was being cleaned and there was the occasional thud of workmen overhead. The bag is embroidered in red, blue and yellow and is used by the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks for the collection during services. Other livery bags are on display in a cabinet alongside salvaged items from the air raid on the church in 1940. With thanks to St Lawrence Jewry.

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St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Queen Victoria St

I had a good view of the church, standing opposite on the steps of Baynard’s Castle Car Park. The original church was destroyed in the Great Fire and was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren. The ‘Wardrobe’ refers to the royal stores for ceremonial robes which were moved from the Tower of London to Wardrobe Place nearby in 1361.

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The Cordwainer, St. Mary Aldermary, Watling St

Outside the church sits this statue. In medieval times, shoe makers lived and worked in the Cordwainer Ward where the bronze statue now sits. Cordwainers made shoes whilst cobblers mended them. This is one of my favourite City sculptures, with the Cordwainer’s skilful hands working the leather and his face full of concentration. Should you ever pass by, observe the detail of his clothes and leather apron.

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St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet St

I stood opposite the church under a large restaurant sign to draw St. Dunstan’s until I was defeated by the rain. A church has stood on this site since 988AD and the present building was rebuilt in 1831. Inside is an altar screen bought over from a monastery in Bucharest in 1966 with painted saints on carved wooden panels. On the tower is a diamond-shaped clock face built in 1671, as well as a statue of Queen Elizabeth I in the courtyard and statues of King Lud with his two sons in a doorway round the side.

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Two Stone Heads, St Mary-at-Hill

These two old stone heads are on a car park wall opposite St Mary-at-Hill. Perhaps they originate from a nearby church but I found no plaque or explanation of how they came to be here. The man smiles in one direction while the woman smiles in the other, and they caught my eye so I drew them. Does any reader know of their origin? I would love to know!

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St Benet’s Welsh Church, Queen Victoria St

The redbrick building of St. Benet’s has Portland stone corners with garlands of fruit and flowers hanging over each window. It sits marooned in a dead end lane with St. Paul’s Cathedral beyond. A church has stood here since 1111, dedicated to St. Benedict, and was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after being destroyed in the Great Fire.

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The Tower of St Elsyng Spital, London Wall

A view from the gardens of St Alphage. These ruins were once part of Elsyng Spital, a hospital founded by William Elsing, a London merchant in 1331 to provide a home and care for the homeless, blind, beggars and the vulnerable. A common theme emerged as cold weather and rain drew my sketch to a close.

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St Ann Blackfriars Churchyard, Church Entry, Blackfriars

Birdsong was just audible over the usual building noise, but otherwise it was a peaceful place to sit. The alley and churchyard were once part of the thirteenth century Blackfriars Friary complex which was dissolved by Henry VIII. Today, the churchyard is a sheltered place where palm trees grow.

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The Lion, St Mary Abchurch

On the front pew sits a golden lion on the left, facing a white painted unicorn on the right, each clutching a shield of St George. I was lucky enough to listen to an organ recital while I drew both figures. With kind permission of St Mary Abchurch

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The Unicorn, St Mary Abchurch

The white-painted companion to the lion, sitting on the front pew.

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The Victorian Bathhouse, Bishopsgate Churchyard

This striking bathhouse, tiled in red and turquoise, sits within the churchyard of St Botolph’s Without Bishopsgate, built in 1817 as a Turkish baths for City clients. I sat in a wind tunnel to draw beneath the tall buildings surrounding it and a couple of passing policemen came to say hello, curious to see what I was drawing. Unfortunately, permission has been granted by the City for a new office tower overhanging the historic bathhouse.

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Flowers, Chalk Churchyard, Kent

Chalk church sits on an isolated hillside overlooking the North Kent marshes. A still life of rosemary, lavender and ivy which grow in the churchyard.

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Drawings copyright © Peta Bridle

Follow Peta Bridle on Instagram

You may also like to take a look at

Peta Bridle’s London Viewpoints

Peta Bridle’s East End Sketchbook

Peta Bridle’s Riverside Sketchbook

Peta Bridle’s Gravesend Sketchbook

Peta Bridle’s City of London Sketchbook

Peta Bridle’s New Etchings

Peta Bridle’s Latest Drypoint Etchings

Peta Bridle River Etchings

Peta Bridle’s Watery London

16 Responses leave one →
  1. Jacob permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Some lovely illustrations Peta, I always find your subjects a breath of fresh air. Old London is always so fascinating. My favourite is The Two Stone Heads!

  2. Tracy Quarrington-Page permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Oh Peta, these sketches are so beautiful! I love the soft ink colours and all the details you get in to each sketch. I love all of them, but especially the Victorian bathhouse and the lion and the unicorn. You’re very skilled and I always enjoy viewing your sketches.

  3. Melissa permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Amazing artwork! Absolutely beautiful pieces!

  4. Lydia Deane permalink
    April 29, 2024

    These drawings are lovely! I’m not an expert, of course, but I wonder if the two heads on the car park might be shams. I don’t remember seeing old people wearing crowns ever depicted smiling! I didn’t think that was part of their historic demeanor!

  5. April 29, 2024

    These really are extraordinarily detailed drawings and a delight to see. Thank you so much Peta and the GA for sharing.

  6. Mark permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Beautiful and delicate as always, Peta.

  7. Marnie permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Incredible, luscious. The particular detail is like looking at fine lace.

    (The unicorn needs some work. Maybe some time spent with the King’s horses.)

  8. Daisy permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Lovely illustrations as always!! So much detail! Peta always captures otherwise forgotten London locations in a new and intriguing light! Can’t wait to see more!

  9. Robyn permalink
    April 29, 2024

    Lovely illustrations. Hope to see more

  10. Harry permalink
    April 29, 2024

    All are gorgeous! My favourites are definitely the Lion and the Unicorn.

  11. April 29, 2024

    One could learn so much about drawing by studying these beautiful sketches. There is so much variety. You have inspired me! Thank you.

  12. April 30, 2024

    Gorgeous work!

  13. Nasty Nige permalink
    April 30, 2024

    Quality work

  14. Brenda Paternoster permalink
    May 1, 2024

    Peta these illustrations are superb. I especially like how you have muted the background drawings to bring the main subject forwards.
    Hard to choose a favourite but I think it might be the Cordwainer

  15. Susan permalink
    May 2, 2024

    Your sketches are so lovely Peta and alongside the historical information you bring the subjects to life.

  16. Carolyn Hooper permalink
    May 31, 2024

    Such an interesting post, gentle author. Peta’s sharing of her beautiful artwork is such good fortune to those of us who have spent time on this.

    Whilst reading the notes, I dabbled back into my Legacy family tree software to see which couple married at St Andrew Undershaft in 1732. How lucky am I sitting here in Brisbane Australia being inspired.

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