St Clement Danes

Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of the Strand district with this look at the famous church of St Clement Danes:

St Clement Danes Church, at the east end of the Strand, is said to have been so called because the Danes who remained after Alfred's final victory were made to live in this quarter.

The church is of extreme antiquity. That which was taken down in 1680 was certainly not the earliest.

In its churchyard lie the remains of King Harold. The new church was built by Edward Pierce, under the superintendence of Wren. The present tower and steeple were added by Gibbs.

St Clement's has long been famous for its bells, commented on in the children's game:

"Oranges and lemons
Say the bells of St Clement's."

Oranges and lemons used to be distributed among the parish poor at certain seasons.

The bells, ten in number, still peal as merrily as of old.

In the gallery a brass plate with an inscription marks the spot where Dr Johnson regularly sat in his attendance at service.

The body of the church is filled with high old-fashioned pews, and the pulpit is a peculiarly rich bit of work attributed to Grinling Gibbons, though it does not altogether follow the usual type of his designs.

Several monuments hang on the walls and pillars, but none of any general interest. In the church are buried Otway and Nathaniel Lee.

The plate belonging to the church is very handsome and valuable, of silver, and some pieces date back to the time of Queen Elizabeth.

The registers also commence at 1558, and contain several interesting entries. One of the earliest is the baptism of Robert Cecil, June 6, 1563, son of the High Treasurer, who was himself Prime Minister under Elizabeth and James I.

Next: The Strand: Essex House