(St.) Mary Staining

   At the north end of Staining Lane, in Aldersgate Ward Within (O. and M. 1677).

   The parish extends into Cripplegate and Farringdon Wards Within.

   First mention: "Ecclesia de Staningehage," 1189 (Cott. MS. Faust. B. II. f. 9).

   Other forms : "Church of Staningelane," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 25). "St. Mary de Stanigeslane," 1278 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 274). "St. Mary Stanyngelane," 1320 (Cal. P.R Ed. II. 1317-21, p. 556). "St. Mary Stanynges," 38 H. VI. (Anc. Deeds, B. 2082).

   Repaired and beautified 1630 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 96). Burnt in the Fire and not rebuilt.

   Parish united to St. Michael, Wood Street.

   A Rectory. Patrons : Nuns of Clerkenwell, afterwards the Crown.

   Stow says it was called Staining "because it standeth at the north end of Stayninglane." But it seems more likely that the lane took its designation from the Church, or that they were both derived from a common source. Professor Maitland suggests that the name was due to the fact that the neighbourhood once contained the haws of the men of Staines-the "Staeningehaga"-within London appertaining to the manor of Staines, included in the grant of that manor by Edward the Confessor to St. Peter's, Westminster (Kemble, Cod. Dip. dccclv.). Could there have been a stone yard in the neighbourhood?

   The churchyard is still enclosed as an open space, and an inscription on the wall records the fact that the church stood on that site before the Fire.