St Giles-without-Cripplegate - Definition and Overview

St Giles-without-Cripplegate is an Anglican church in the City of London, located within the modern Barbican complex. When built it stood without (ie outside) the city wall, near the Cripplegate. The church is dedicated to St Giles, patron saint of beggars and cripples. It is one of the few medieval churches left in the City of London, having survived the Great Fire of 1666.

There was a Saxon church on the site in the 11th century but by 1090 it had been replaced by a Norman one. In 1394 it was rebuilt in the perpendicular gothic style.

The church has been badly damaged by fire on three occasions: In 1545, in 1897 and during the Second World War in 1940. The bombs of the Second World War completely gutted the church but it was restored using the plans of the reconstruction of 1545.

Famous people associated with the church

• John Foxe, author of the Book of Martyrs, buried in the church, 1587
• Sir Martin Frobisher, captain who fought against the Spanish Armada, buried in the church, 1594
• Oliver Cromwell, military commander and Lord Protector of England during the Commonwealth, married in the church, 1620
• Ben Jonson, first poet Laureate, buried in the church, 1637
• John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, buried in the church, 1674
• John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim's Progress, attended the church
• Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, died in the parish, 1731

See also

• List of churches and cathedrals of London

External links

• St Giles Church website (http://www.stgilescripplegate.com/)
• St Giles Organ Project (http://www.stgilesorgan.com/)