(St.) Peter Cornhill

   On the south side of Cornhill at No.55 (P.O. Directory). In Comhill Ward.

   The parish is in Lime Street, Bishopsgate Within and Cornhill Wards. Earliest mention: "St. Peter binnon Lunden" (1040, Kemble, Codex Dip. dcclix.). Called also "St. Peter de Cornhill," "super Cornhill," "St. Peter Ledynhall in Corneyle," 1449 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1446-52, p, 304),

   There was a tablet in the church in Stow's time recording that it was founded by King Lucius to be an Archbishop's See, c. 179, but that the see was removed to Canterbury temp. St. Augustine (S. 195; and see Riley's Memorials, 651-3).

   Tablet afterwards in vestry.

   A chapel of St. Mary in the Chancel (Strype).

   Repaired 1628-33.

   Destroyed in the Fire and rebuilt by Wren 1681 (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. ii. 139), and Parish Registers quoted in Trans. L. and M. Arch. Soc. IV. 305. Some ground was taken away from the Church for the widening of Gracechurch Street (Wilkinson, p.15).

   A rood-screen erected at the time. Repaired 1889.

   A Rectory. Patron: John de Nevyle, 10 Ed. I., Ch. I. p.m.

   Advowson given to the Mayor and Aldermen by Richard Whittington. Presented first 1429 (Newcourt, I. 523).

   The Lucius legend appears first in "Liber Pontificalis," not later than 700 A.D. Thence found its way into general circulation through Nennius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History (Kingsford's Stow, II. 304).

   The Sixth Report of the Hist. MSS. Commission contains an account of some interesting MSS., belonging to the collection of Sir George Dasent, relating to the founding of the gild of St. Peter's Cornhill and the tenements set apart for its maintenance, etc. (pp.407-12).

   Chiefly composed of members of the Fishmongers' Company (Trans. L. and M. Arch Soc. IV. p.303).

   The church had attached to it 25 H. VI. one of the four parochial schools directed by Parliament to be maintained in London, and there was a fine library attached to the School (S. 195).