St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster , London . It can be found near the Royal Courts of Justice on the beach . The church was completed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1682 .
The church also appears in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons , and the bells of the church also play the matching melody. St Clement Eastcheap , in the City of London , claims the same for itself. In contrast to St Clement Eastcheap, fruit was stored in the churchyard of St Clement Danes, which was occasionally given to children in need by the Church Wardens. This custom is still lived today. The church is next to St Mary le Strand one of two island churches on the beach.
history
The first church in this place is said to have been one built by the Danes. The Danes populated the area of the beach in the 9th century, which underlines this statement. Saint Clemens is also the patron saint of seafaring. King Harald I was buried here.
The church was first rebuilt by William the Conqueror and then a second time in the Middle Ages . In the 17th century the church was in such poor condition that it was renovated by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire in 1666 . The current tower was added by James Gibbs in the 18th century .
During the German air raids in 1941, the church was almost completely destroyed. Only the outer walls and the tower survived the bombing.
In 1844 the St Clement Danes School was established on Houghton Road, Holborn. This area has belonged to the Church since 1552. The school opened in 1862 and existed there until 1928. The school then moved to Shepherd's Bush by 1975 , when it reopened as a comprehensive school in Chorleywood , Hertfordshire .
Royal Air Force Church
The Royal Air Force (RAF) took care after the Second World War strengthened the collection of donations for the reconstruction of the church. The collected donations made it possible to reopen the church on October 19, 1958. Since that time the church has been the church of the RAF.
Church services commemorating important RAF events are held regularly. A heading in Latin at the entrance to the church was added after the reconstruction. It says: "Built by Christopher Wren in 1682. Destroyed by lightning bolts from the Air War in 1941. Rebuilt by the Royal Air Force in 1958".
Memorials
More than 800 plaques of RAF commands, groups, stations, squadrons and other formations of the RAF are installed on the Irish slate floor of the church. Near the entrance is a ring of plaques of members of the Commonwealth Air Forces encircling the plaque of the RAF.
A memorial to the Polish pilots and squadrons who helped protect Britain and liberate Europe during World War II can be seen in the north wing of the church.
All members of the RAF who fell on duty are recorded here in special books. The dates of the death of American airmen who died in the United Kingdom in World War II are also archived here.
Foundations and Artifacts
The pulpit was a gift from the Royal Australian Air Force , the cross from the Air Training Corps , the altar from the Netherlands .
pulpit
Polish Air Force Memorial
Commonwealth Airforce Memorial Mosaic
Choir window
organ
The organ was built in 1958 by the organ builder Harrison & Harrison (Durham). The instrument is a gift from the American Air Force. It has 38 stops on three manuals and a pedal. The actions are electro-pneumatic.
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Statues
Outside the church are two statues of former Royal Air Force leaders, Arthur Harris and Hugh Dowding .
Individual evidence
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 47.2 " N , 0 ° 6 ′ 50" W.