St Paul's Church (Covent Garden)
Coordinates: 51 ° 30 ′ 42.5 ″ N , 0 ° 7 ′ 24 ″ W.
St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden in London was built by Inigo Jones from 1631 to 1634 on behalf of Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford .
history
The church was consecrated in 1638. In 1645 Covent Garden became its own parish and the church was dedicated to St. Paul. The church is also known as the 'Actors Church'. As early as 1662, Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary that a traditional puppet show was performed in the entrance area of the church. The connection between the church and the theater is dated to 1663 when the Theater Royal was opened in Drury Lane. In 1723 the Covent Garden Theater opened what is now the Royal Opera House and gave another connection to the theater for the church.
In 1795 a fire destroyed large parts of the church, but the pulpit - a work by Grinling Gibbons - was saved along with church records.
The painter JMW Turner and the composer WS Gilbert were baptized in this church. The poet Samuel Butler , the woodcarver Grinling Gibbons, the painter Peter Lely , the composer Thomas Arne and the conductor Charles Mackerras were buried in St. Paul. Monuments in the church commemorate prominent figures such as Charlie Chaplin and Vivien Leigh .
The church is home to the Orchestra of St Paul's , a professional chamber orchestra .
organ
The organ was built in 1861 by the organ builder Bevington & Sons (London). The organ case dates from 1820. In 1976 the organ building company Mander (London) restored the instrument and fitted it with new mechanical action . The organ has 27 registers on three manuals and a pedal.
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Individual evidence
Web links
- Survey of London Vol 36, Covent Garden Chapter 5, St. Paul's Church. Church history available online here at British History Online.
- Orchestra of St Paul's Covent Garden Official Website