St Mary-le-Bow

Not to be confused with Marylebone; Bow Church; or St Mary-le-Bow, Durham.

St Mary-le-Bow
Parish Church of Saint Mary-le-Bow
View from Bow Churchyard
St Mary-le-Bow Location within City of London St Mary-le-Bow Location within City of London in 1300
OS grid reference	TQ 32386 81143
Location	Cheapside, City of London, EC2
Country	England
Language	English
Denomination	Church of England
Previous denomination	Roman Catholic (to 1536)
Website	stmarylebow.org.uk
History
Founded	1080
Founder	Lanfranc
Dedication	Mary, mother of Jesus
Architecture
Architects	Sir Christopher Wren Laurence King (to Wren's design)
Style	English Baroque
Years built	1670–1680
Administration
Province	Canterbury
Diocese	London
Archdeaconry	London
Deanery	The City
Benefice	St Mary-le-Bow

The Church of St Mary-le-Bow (/lə ˈboʊ/, rhymes with 'know') is a Church of England parish church in the City of London, England. Located on Cheapside, one of the city's oldest thoroughfares, the church was founded in 1080, by Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury. Rebuilt several times over the ensuing centuries, the present church is the work of Sir Christopher Wren, following the Great Fire of London (1666). With its tall spire, it is still a landmark in the City of London, being the third highest of any Wren church, surpassed only by nearby St Paul's Cathedral and St Bride's, Fleet Street. At a cost of over £15,000, it was also his second most expensive, again only surpassed by St Paul's Cathedral.

St Mary-le-Bow is widely known for its bells, which also feature in the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons". According to legend, Dick Whittington heard the bells calling him back to the city in 1392, leading him to become Lord Mayor. Traditionally, anyone born within earshot of the bells was considered to be a true Londoner, or Cockney.

The church suffered severe damage by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War as part of the Blitz, like many churches in London. The interior was reduced to a shell, and though the tower survived, fire damage made the bells crash to the floor. The church was sympathetically restored to its pre-war condition by Laurence King from 1956 to 1964. The church was awarded Grade I listed status, the highest possible rating, on the National Heritage List for England, whilst still a shell in 1950.