St George’s in History
St George the Martyr is one of the ancient parishes of Southwark and probably the first church in London to be dedicated to St George. The earliest record of the church is an entry in the Annals of Bermondsey Priory, for the year 1122, recording the gift of the advowson of St George’s to the Priory by Thomas de Arderne and his son.
Scarcely anything is known about the original Norman church. It was rebuilt at the end of the 14th century. The second church appears on some early maps and drawings of Southwark and can be seen in Hogarth’s picture of "Southwark Fair" in 1733. Almost immediately after this, the church was again demolished and rebuilt, the present structure being consecrated in 1736. The architect, John Price, did not live to see its completion. The church retains its Georgian appearance, though a spectacular new ceiling was added in 1897. Designed by Basil Champneys, in an Italinate style, it represents the glory of God breaking through the clouds, and cherubs holding scrolls with words from the Te Deum and Benedicite. The church suffered blast damage during the Second World War and a major restoration was carried out at the beginning of the 1950s
During the middle ages, the Borough High Street, running south from London Bridge, ended at the church with St George’s Fields lying beyond. On special occasions, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London would come out to St George’s to welcome important visitors, as they did for Henry V, on his return from Agincourt. The poet John Gower left money to the church in his will. Peter Carmelianus, poet and Latin tutor to Henry VII, was rector, and Nahum Tate, author of "While Shepherds watched their flocks by night", was buried here. Two famous mathematicians, Edward Cocker and Edmund Gunther, were also associated with the church.
During the 19th century, the Borough became one of the most densely populated areas in the country. The Vestry meeting, chaired by the Rector, continued to discharge local authority functions for the Parish, up until the establishment of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in late 1890s.
The registers date from 1602 and are continuous from then. All the historic registers are deposited with the Metropolitan Archive. Records of the Civil Parish and its Vestry meetings are held at the Southwark Local Studies Library, which is close by the church.
Two books are now available on the early history of St George’s.
“BETWEEN PRISON AND PALACE: The Parish of St George, Southwark, before the Reformation” by Tony Lucas.
“POETS PARSONS AND PRISONERS: writings about the Church and Parish from Six Centuries” by Tony Lucas.
Both priced priced at £7.00 inc. post & packing. From St George’s Rectory, Manciple Street, London SE1 4LW
