Church Of St Helen

The Church of St Helen, located on Great St Helen's EC3, dates back to the 13th century, with additions from the 14th century and remodelling in the 15th century. It features two aisles, with the northern aisle previously used by a priory, separated by a 15th-century arcade that includes two earlier arches between the chancel and the former nuns' choir. There is no chancel arch present. The south transept and a 14th-century chapel are located to the east of it. The walls are made of rubble, which is partly rendered and has been extensively repaired, particularly on the north and east sides. Some sections are faced with ashlar stone and some with brick. The building has battlements with low gables on the east and west sides. Most of the windows are from the 15th century, although there are blocked lancets in the north wall and the west wall of the transept. The roofs are generally covered with lead, except for the south-east arm, which has a 19th-century hipped, slated roof featuring timber 'gothic' tracery in the large dormers. The west doorways date from the 15th and 14th centuries, the latter having decorated mid-17th-century doors. An elaborate round-arched and pedimented south doorway is dated 1633. The church has old rainwater heads, and the roof timbers, which are of tie beam construction, are partly original, except in the south-east arm.

Inside, the church is notable for its fittings, particularly the monuments, some of which were moved from the demolished Church of St Martin, Outwich. There are two mid-17th-century internal porches, an early 17th-century pulpit with a tester and 16th-century stairs, and 15th-century choir stalls. A late 17th-century sword rest is made of carved wood, and another is made of wrought iron. The font and cover date from the mid-17th century, and there is 17th-century heraldic glass in a window on the north side. An early to mid-18th-century organ case is present, and the chancel has a 19th-century pavement made of marble and tiles. The church contains several monuments, including brasses and notable figures such as Sir John Oteswich and his wife from the late 14th century, Sir John Crosby and his wife from 1476, Sir William Pickering who died in 1574, Sir Thomas Gresham who died in 1579, and Sir John Spenser who died in 1609, among many others.