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Wren’s London 300

Wren’s London 300

Throughout 2023, Urbanwise.London worked with local schools, adults and community groups to celebrate the life of Sir Christopher Wren in the 300th year of his death. Wren is acknowledged as one of England’s foremost architects, responsible for some of our finest buildings, including his life’s achievement, St Paul’s Cathedral.

In honour of this significant year, we arranged guided walks and visits to many of Wren’s renowned buildings, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London churches. We also hosted art workshops so that people could learn more about the man and his work.

At the end of the project we created an audio guide and an illustrated leaflet. We hope you enjoy using them and discovering Wren’s City churches for yourself!

Photo credit at top of page: Kevin Langdon

Leaflet

Click here to open the illustrated leaflet of Wren’s Churches which includes a map. You can use this and the audio guide below to go on a self-guided Wren walking tour!

Audio guide

About the Audio Guide:
Narrator: Manny (Emmanuel Simon; photo on right) an actor, writer, performer and producer from west London.
Music: ‘The Prince of Denmark’s March’ also called the ‘Trumpet Voluntary’ was written by Jeremiah Clarke who was the organist in the newly built St. Paul’s Cathedral.

 

More About the Project

Our project included the following activities:

  • ‘In the City’ guided walks
  • ‘Wren’s lesser-known churches’ guided walk
  • Visit to Hampton Court Palace
  • Boat trip to Royal Hospital, Greenwich
  • Visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • ‘Christoper Wren: The Quest for Knowledge’ Exhibition at St. Paul’s Cathedral
  • Visit to ‘Wren at Work’ Exhibition at the Guildhall, City of London
  • Visit to the Sky Garden and St. Dunstan in the East Garden.
  • ‘Pepys’s Footsteps’ guided walk
  • ‘Great Fire of London’: Primary School workshops
  • ‘Wren’s Spires’ Art workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to the people we worked with:

Local residents, West London families, The Westbourne Forum, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Local History Group, Church Street Community Champions, Westbourne Community Champions, children from Old Oak Primary School and West Acton Primary School, and local artist Renata Fernandes.

 

Thank you to The National Heritage Lottery Fund for supporting this project.

 

Highlights from the Project

“For me, the highlight was climbing up all the way to the golden gallery stopping on the way at the whispering and stone galleries. The view was just so beautiful from up there.” St. Paul’s Cathedral visit

“I loved exploring those narrow alleyways and lesser-known buildings while being bookended by two of Wren’s most famous masterpieces. Its was a superb commentary and ending at St Paul’s for the striking of 9pm was inspired! Our members thoroughly enjoyed the evening!” ‘Wren’s Lesser-known Churches’ walk

‘So pleased I finally got to visit the whispering gallery and beyond. All these years living in London (35) and thanks to you I finally got there!” St. Paul’s Cathedral visit

 

Further reading/information:

To find out more about Sir Christopher Wren’ work, we suggest exploring the resources below.

Books

On a Grander Scale by Lisa Jardine
Christopher Wren by James Chambers
Sir Christopher Wren by Paul Rabbits
London’s City Churches by Stephen Millar
City of London Churches by Tony Tucker

Websites

St. Paul’s Cathedral
Friends of the City Churches
Royal Museums Greenwich: Who Was Sir Christopher Wren?
Hampton Court Palace
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich: Wren’s Vision for the Royal Hospital
Home of the Chelsea Pensioners: Our History
St. James’s Piccadilly: The Church Building
St. Bride’s Church