(St.) Ethelburga

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

1) On the east side of Bishopsgate (P.O. Directory). In Bishopsgate Ward Within.


First mention found in records : 1278-9 (Anc. Deeds, A. 1843).

Other names : "St. Edburga the Virgin within Bissopesgate," 1 Ed. I. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1620).

Various forms of the name occur at different periods : "St. Edelburg," 1279-80 (Anc. Deeds, A. 1842). "S. Adelburga," 1282 (Ct. H.W. I. 58). "S. Athelburga," 1308 (Ct. H.W. I. 201). "S. Alburga," 1311 (ib. 225). "S. Elburga," 1349 (ib. 622). "Seynt Alborgh," 1516 (Fabyan, p. 295). "Alborought Wythout (sic) Bisshopisgate" (Arnold, 247-8).

Referred to in a will of 1315 as "St. Werburga" (q.v.)

A Rectory. Patrons : Originally belonged to the Priory of St. Helens (Lib. Cust. I. 236) until the dissolution of the monasteries. It is now in the hands of the Bishop of London.

It was repaired several times in the 17th century (Strype, ed. 1720, I. ii. 99), but not being destroyed in the Great Fire it retains some of its Early English masonry.

It contains a 15th century arcade (Godfrey's Hist. of Arch. in London, p. 355).

Said to have been dedicated to the Abbess of Barking, who died 676, and not to the Queen Ethelburga (Arnold Forster, Dedications of Churches, II. p. 383).

2) See St. John the Evangelist, Friday Street.

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