St Dunstan-in-the-East
St Dunstan - in-the- East is a former church between St Dunstan 's Hill and Idol Lane in the City of London. The church building by Christopher Wren was destroyed during the German air raids on London. The ruins and the adjoining churchyard used since 1971 as a park. The ruin is a Listed Building. It is located in Eastcheap Conservation Area.
Is dedicated to the church Dunstan of Canterbury, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. The suffix " in-the -East" carries the Church to distinguish it from St Dunstan -in-the -West, which is located on the western edge of the City of London.
Architectural History
St Dunstan was originally built in the second half of the 13th century in Gothic style. The associated community was one of the richest in London, so that St Dunstan beside St Magnus the Martyr was his priests pay the highest salaries. The church was extended in 1382 by a southern nave, and in 1633 major refurbishment. The resulting building was one of the larger churches in the City of London, but still significantly smaller than the original medieval structure. However, the newly -clad exterior walls survived the Great Fire of London, steeple and lace were destroyed.
The church tower was built in 1695-1701 by Christopher Wren. The stonemason who carried out the work Ephraim Beauchamp was. Wren left the tower, unusually, gothic make for his work to match the rest of the church. It is controversial whether Wrens daughter Jane influence has taken over the design. The design is based on St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Wren was convinced of shape and stability of the church tower of the legend, so that he thought he was virtually indestructible. After he was told in 1703 that a tornado had destroyed all the church spiers of the City, he only replied: "Certainly not of St Dunstan. " The church tower and its tip survived the tornado as the air attack of the Germans.
Another redesign learned the church from 1817 to 1821. IN this time it turned out that the post- Brands roof was too heavy for the medieval walls, and pressed them apart slowly. David Laing designed the rest of the building, except for the tower, a large area has to offer. During World War II the church was bombed, the tower remained intact. There is now a center for alternative medicine in it. The church bells were renewed in 1953. However, they no longer rang, as they had the standing without support through the building tower might be at risk in its stability. During the renovation in 1970 the bells were abgenomen again, and they are now at a California winery.
After the ruin had been a good two decades, the City of London Corporation decided in 1967 to convert the site into a park. In 1970, the park. 1976 won the landscapers involved for remodeling a Landscape Heritage Award. The church belongs to the parish of All Hallows -by-the - Tower. Occasionally, open-air services are held there today instead, such as on Palm Sunday. Then draw a Prozessin of St Dunstan to All Hallows.
The Park
Planted the park is to a large extent with climbing and creeping plants that grow on the church walls. In the protected environment of the ruin plants in the English climate difficult to do otherwise grow. In the middle of the nave there is a small fountain. The small park is tucked away amidst the medieval gas tightness Wirrs in this part of London. Due to the surprising situation, and the fact that it lies partly in the midst of a ruin, the park regularly appears in lists and tip guides for London. Nevertheless, it is weekday mainly visited by the employees of nearby offices, while he lies largely abandoned over the weekend.