St Nicholas Shambles
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St Nicholas Shambles was a medieval church in the
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, which stood on the corner of Butcher Hall Lane (now King Edward Street) and Newgate Street. It took its name from the Shambles, the butchers area in the west of Newgate Street. The church is first mentioned as ''St. Nicholas de Westrnacekaria''. In 1253
Walter de Cantilupe Walter de Cantilupe (died 1266) was a medieval Bishop of Worcester. Early life and career Cantilupe came from a family that had risen by devoted service to the crown. His father, William I de Cantilupe,Bishop of Worcester A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
granted
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to its parishioners. In 1546,
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gave the church, along with that of St Ewin (also known as St Audoen) and the dissolved Christ Church priory to the City corporation. A new parish was created for Christ Church, out of those of St Nicholas and St Ewin, and part of that of St Sepulchre. St Nicholas' was demolished in 1547. The site was extensively excavated in 1975–79 in preparation for construction of the GPO headquarters, (now the
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). The excavations identified several phases of building. The original nave and chancel probably dated from the 11th century. They were extended in the late 12th century. Chapels were added to the east end in the 14th century, a north aisle was added to the nave in the first half of the 15th century, and, finally, the east end was rebuilt and a sacristy added on the north. The excavations included the grave yard. Among the finds was a woman who died in the later stages of childbirth. Surviving parish records, now held among the archives of
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, include an exceptionally detailed inventory of church books, plate,
vestment Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially by Eastern Churches, Catholics (of all rites), Anglicans, and Lutherans. Many other groups also make use of liturgical garments; this ...
s and other possessions of 1457, and a series of
churchwarden A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish or congregation of the Anglican Communion or Catholic Church, usually working as a part-time volunteer. In the Anglican tradition, holders of these positions are ''ex officio'' members of the parish b ...
s' accounts running from 1452 to 1526.


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12th-century church buildings in England 1547 disestablishments in England Churches in the City of London Former buildings and structures in the City of London {{London-church-stub