St Alfege Church — Attraction in London

Beautiful Grade 1 listed, Georgian Baroque building erected by the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor 1712 - 14 consecrated 1718. (One of six throughout London). Which still retains it's 12th century medieval Tower. Has a tuscan portico at it's entrance and columns all the way around. Farely plain interior with a flat ceiling in white with lots of wood and a lovely arch over the alter. In front of the alter in the floor are retained the remains of it's patron Saint Alfege. In 1012 Alfege was the then Archbishop of Canterbury who was captured by the invading vikings (Danes) & taken to their base camp in Greenwich. Confined to a wee, dark, dank dungeon cell for 7/8 months. His captors wanted a mahoosive 3000 gold sovereigns for his release. Kenning this would lead his followers into starvation, Alfege refused to be ransomed. Instead he was ox boned to death (impaled with possibly sharpened bones thrown at him). He was martyred for his sacrifice on 19th April 1012. Also buried here are ; The English composer Thomas Tallis 1585 The English explorer of Canada Henry Kelsey 1724 The actress Lavinia Fenton 1760 Amongst others. In 1491 Henry 8th was baptised here. Good acoustics for the recitals that are held here. In close proximity to The Greenwich Picture House, Greenwich Park, Greenwich Market, Greenwich Theatre, Greenwich Foot Tunnel, The Cutty Sark, The River Thames, The Gipsy Moth, The Fan Museum, National Maritime Museum, Prime Meridian and The Royal Observatory etc. Nearest station...

Tombstone fence outside the church was interesting. The church is medieval origin and was rebuilt in 1712–1714 to the designs of Nicholas Hawksmoor.

The church is dedicated to Alfege (also spelt "Alphege"), Archbishop of Canterbury, and reputedly marks the place where he was martyred on 19 April 1012, having been taken prisoner during the sack of Canterbury by Danish raiders the previous year. The Danes took him to their camp at Greenwich and killed him when the large ransom they demanded was not forthcoming.

The church was rebuilt in around 1290. It was in this building that Henry VIII was baptised in 1491.

The patronage of the church was given to the abbey at Ghent during the 13th century. Following the suppression of alien priories under Henry V, it was granted to the priory at Sheen with which it remained until transferred to the Crown by exchange under Henry VIII in 1530.

During a storm in 1710 the medieval church collapsed, its foundations having been weakened by burials both inside...

St Alfege Church is an Anglican church in the centre of Greenwich, part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London. It is of medieval origin and was rebuilt several times, once in the beginning of 18th century and the after the World War II. The history of the Church says that its crypt served as an air-raid shelter during World War II and during the Blitz on 19 March 1941, incendiary bombs landed on the roof causing it to collapse, burning into the nave. The walls and the tower remained standing but much of the interior was gutted. The church was then restored by Sir Albert Richardson in 1953. As part of the post-war restorations, stencils of Mary the Mother of Jesus and St John the Evangelist were installed either side of the Cross. I visited this beautiful Anglican church for the first time in 2015 and then several time afterwards. It stands in a very prominent spot in Greenwich, and next to it is a famous Greenwich pub 'The Mitre' that is full of...