Church Of St Stephen

TQ 3281 SE 10/258

WALBROOK EC4 (East Side) Church of St Stephen

4.1.50.

I 1672 to 87 by Wren. Rectangular body with stone columns supporting large, plaster dome with barrel-vaulted arms (additional bay to west) and flat ceilings to corner compartments. West lobby and porch (plus vestry and tower to north) extend to street frontage.

Plain exterior of ashlar, rubble and brick, partly rendered, with simple cornice and blocking. Round-arched, circular and elliptical windows. Recessed clerestory. Copper roofed dome arid lantern. Plain tower in four stages of squared stone with dressings and part refacing of Portland stone. Crowning cornice and balustrade, and open, stone steeple in five diminishing stages with weather vane and order of Ionic columns to lowest stage. New, enclosed staircase at base of north side of tower. Corniced porch, with round-arched entrance and enriched elliptical opening above. Stone steps inside rise to corniced doorway.

Interior has order of Corinthian columns and pilasters, on low pedestals, with rich entablature. Eight arches support the coffered dome and lantern, all with plaster enrichment. Clerestory windows segmentally arched or lunettes. Pavement and some fittings of C19 date but following are original: fine wainscot with benching, reredos (with C19 pediment), communion table and rails, pulpit and tester, west gallery with organ and doorway below, font and cover. Large, later C18 altar piece by Benjamin West, now in north transept. Good wall monuments.

Listing NGR: TQ3264681030