St. Mary-le-Bow

Context view, looking east on Cheapside Road, showing the tower; Archaeological evidence indicates that a church existed on this site in Saxon period England. The church with its steeple had been a landmark of London and the “Bow bells”, which could be heard as far away as Hackney Marshes, were once used to signal a curfew in the City of London. This building burned in the Great Fire of London of 1666. The current building was built to the designs of Christopher Wren, 1671-1673, with the 223-foot steeple completed 1680. (The tallest and most elaborate of Wren's church building campaign.) Much of the current building was destroyed by a German bomb during the London Blitz on May 10, 1941, during which fire the bells crashed to the ground. Restoration under the direction of Laurence King was begun in 1956. The church was formally reconsecrated in 1964. Source: Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page (accessed 6/13/2009