(St.) Mary Woolchurch

   On the south side of the Stocks Market, at the junction of the Poultry and Cornhill (S. 227). In Walbrook Ward. The parish extends into Broad Street, Cornhill and Langbourn Wards.

   Earliest mention: "St. Mary of Woollechurche-hawe," 1260 (Cal. Charter Rolls, II. 33).

   Other names and forms : "Wlcherchehawe," 3 Ed. I. (Rot. Hund. I. 403) (See below).

   "S. Mary Wolmaricherch," 1280-1 (Ct. H.W. I. 51). "Parish of Wolchurich," 10 Ed. I. (Cal. P.R. Ed. I. 1281-92, p. 24). "Wolcherch," 1279-80 (Ct. H.W. I. 46). "S. Mary Wolcherhawe," 1282 (ib. 58). "Wlchurch," 1283-4 (Ct. H.W. I. 68). "S. Mary de Wolcherchawe," 1297-8 (ib. 133). "S. Mary de Wollechirchawe," 1302-3 (ib. 157). "S. Mary atte Stokkes," 1342 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1340-3, p. 477). "St. Mary Newechirche otherwise called Wolchirchehawe," 11 H. IV. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1958).

   In the 10 Ed. I. the King issued Letters Patent to the Mayor and Citizens empowering them to build on a vacant plot of land near the wall of the church of Wollecherche "ex parte Boreali de Wollecherche" (Lib. Cust. I. 274).

   On this vacant plot Henry le Wales erected the Stocks Market, the rents of which were to be applied to the maintenance and repair of London Bridge, 17 Ed. II. (ib. 275).

   In 1346 the Church acquired by grant of the Mayor a plot of land at the east end of the church extending from "les Stokkes" to the gate of the churchyard (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 157).

   In 1422 the church had become so "old and feble" that it was necessary to rebuild it, and ordinances were issued directing the arrangements to be made, so as to avoid any chance of the light of the City's house of "le Stokkys" being obstructed (Cal. L. Bk. K. p. 267). The Vestry of the church was to be pulled down and a new north wall erected at a distance of 15 feet from the Stokkes so as not to obstruct the light of the market, while, in return, a footway was granted from the east end of the Stokkes under the parsonage to the "Pultrie" and a sum of money towards the rebuilding of the church out of the revenues of London Bridge (Cal. L. Bk. K. p. 272).

   John Wingar, who was Mayor 1504, assisted greatly in the building of the Church and Richard Shore gave £20 to make a porch at the western end (S. 228).

   Church repaired and beautified 1629 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 195).

   Burnt in the Fire and not rebuilt, the parish being united to St. Mary Woolnoth (ib. 199).

   A Rectory. Patrons : Monks of St. John Colchester until the dissolution of the monasteries, when it passed to the Crown.

   The site of the church is now occupied by the Mansion House.

   With reference to the patronage of the church See St. Mary de Westcheping.

   Under this heading is related the gift by Eudo dapifer of the church of St. Mary de Westcheping "quae vocatur Niewecherche" to the Abbey of Colchester about 1104.

   If, as seems probable, it is the church of St. Mary Woolchurch that is here indicated we should have an early date suggested for its erection, nor would this be the only occasion on which it was designated "Newchurch." For in the Charter Rolls, H. III. 1252, the lands of Thomas de Exeport are described as in the parish of St. Mary de Neucherch near the street running to Longebrod north, while in 1260 his lands are described as in the parish of St. Mary of Wollechurchehawe (Cal. Ch. Rolls, 1.407, II. 33).

   And even as late as the reign of H. IV. prior to its rebuilding, it is described as "St. Mary Newechirche" otherwise called "Wolchirchehawe" (Anc. Deeds, A. 1958).

   See St. Mary de Newechirche.

   Stow says the church received its name "Woolchurch" or "Woolchurch Haw" from a beam placed in the churchyard for the tronage or weighing of wool there (S. 227), and in support of this statement we find the customs on wool levied at Woichirchaw set out in Liber Albus, I. 246.

   The word "haw" is of course the O. English word "haza" = hedge or encompassing fence, a piece of ground enclosed or fenced in ; "church haw" = churchyard.

   Mr. Round has suggested that Woolchurchhaw is a corruption of Wolnoth maricherch-haw, or the "churchyard of St. Mary Woolnoth," St. Mary Woolchurch having been erected in the churchyard of St. Mary Woolnoth as a daughter church.