(St.) James' Duke's Place

   On the east side of Mitre Square (Duke's Place). In Aldgate Ward (O.S.).

   First mention: About 1572 there was a church standing in Duke's Place, called Trinity or Duke's Place Church, being the parish church, not meddling with St. Catherine's parish, but being a parish within itself. After the church fell down the inhabitants of Duke's Place had service in Woodmongers Hall, then called the Duke's Hall, in Duke's Place, and went to other churches to be married, etc., but not as parishioners. By direction of the King a new church was built on the site of the Chapter House of the Priory at the City's charge by the Mayor and Aldermen (L. and P. Ed. VI., etc., Dom. S. XII. p. 649). Church consecrated 1623 (ib. X. p. 479).

   First called Trinity Christ's Church, but afterwards "St. James" in honour of the King (Stow, ed. 1633, 147).

   In the consecration service the Bishop said that he had dedicated the Church to the worship of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, and he named it the Church or Chapel of St. James within Aldgate (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 60).

   Adjudged temp. Chas. I. that St. James' was a Parish Church and not a precinct of St. Katherine Creechurch (ib. 61).

   Privilege of marrying without licence taken away by Act of Parliament (ib. 81).

   A perpetual curacy (Newcourt I. 368).

   Patrons : Lord Mayor and Commonalty of London.

   Church pulled down 1874 under the Act for the Union of City benefices and the living united to St. Katherine Creechurch.