Amen Court

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

West and north from Amen Corner and west out of Warwick Lane at No.12. In Farringdon Ward Within (P.O. Directory).


It is shut in from the adjacent streets by a high wall and contains the houses belonging to the Canons and some other officials of St. Paul's Cathedral.

First mention: O.S. 1875.

Formerly called " Amen Corner " (q.v.) (O. and M. 1677). In Rocque, 1746 : " Resident of St. Paul's Houses."

Name said to be taken from the text illuminators living near the Cathedral (N. and Q. 9th S. IV. p. 134).

It has been suggested that this name together with Paternoster Row, Ave Maria Lane and Creed Lane mark stages in the processions of the Cathedral clergy-the Lord's Prayer in Latin being said in Paternoster Row, the Amen at the corner, which was at the bottom of the Row, the " Hail Mary " in Ave Maria Lane, while crossing Ludgate, the chanting of the Credo took place (N. and Q. 9th S. IV. pp. 190-1).

Related Words