This church is so called from its dedication to St. Alphage, or

The church in London, dedicated to this saint, stood adjoining to the city wall, near the east side of Cripplegate. But it being demolished at the suppression of religious houses, by Henry VIII. and the site thereof turned into a carpenter's yard, the south aisle of the church of St. Mary, Elsing Spital, was converted into the parish church.

The advowson of this church, which is a rectory, was anciently in the dean and canons of , in whom it continued till Henry VII. annexed it to , , when the abbot and convent became the patrons of it; but that convent being dissolved, queen Mary, in the year , granted the patronage thereof to Edmund, bishop of London, and his successors, in whom it still remains.

This church escaped the fire of London, but soon after became very ruinous.

In 1711, the parishioners applied to the commissioners for building fifty new churches, for enlarging this church. This was succeeded in 1718 by another petition to parliament. After all those efforts, they were under the necessity, three years after, to repair it. About 1724 the pavement was sunk, and the pews so deranged, that it was dangerous to pass along the aisles; upon which 291l. was expended in repairs.

In 1747, the steeple was in such a state, that the bells could not be rung, when four of the six were sold.

Finally, Sept. 1774, the whole church was pronounced so decayed and damp, that it became unfit for use, and was shut up. A committee was appointed to superintend the re-building of it. Mr. Staines (afterwards sir William Staines, knt. and alderman) offered to take down and re-build the church for 1,350l. which was accepted, and the money partly raised by annuities. Part of the old walls were strong enough to be preserved, for supporting a steeple, in which two bells were ordered to be hung, one a tenor of 12 cwt. and the saint's, 3 cwt.

July 24, 1777, the new church was opened, when the reverend Richard Wynne, rector, preached a sermon for the benefit of the ward schools.Malcolm. Lond. Red. vol. i, p. 20.

This church occupies a small spot of ground behind the houses on the south side of London-wall. The east front maybe seen from . The south side partially abuts on Sion , and a northern porch or entrance on the footpath of London-wall. It possesses no exterior character; the portion which may be seen has more the appearance of a secular structure, or a dissenting meeting. The east end is made into divisions;

The interior is approached by the entrances in the east end, and a small door from Sion , as well as through the vestibule and porch on the north side; entering by the latter, a portion of the tower of the old church is seen almost concealed by the modern additions. The remains consist of acutely pointed arches, disposed in a square, with heavy architraves devoid of mouldings, the angles being simply canted off; at the north-east angle is a staircase approached by a pointed doorway; the arch which communicated with the old church has a sweeping cornice, resting on corbels, carved with heads in a bold style, but greatly defaced; judging from these remains, it would appear that the tower originally formed an open portico before the main entrance, an uncommon, but not unpleasing, disposition; the remains shew the period of the building of Elsing Spital; a heavy gallery, acting as the belfry floor, obscures the remains from observation. The body of the church is only remarkable for its naked and poverty-stricken appearance; the plan is nearly square; the north and west walls have no windows; the ceiling is horizontal, and crossed at a short distance from the east wall, by a flying cornice, sustained on pilasters, displaying the same contempt to the orders with the outside. A portion of the eastern wall is occupied by

The monuments from the old church have been judiciously preserved, and are affixed to the vacant north wall of the present. The most remarkable is a splendid monument to the memory of sir Rowland Hayward. It consists of Corinthian columns supporting an entablature, above which are obelisks and shields of arms. The centre niche is occupied with the effigy of the knight in armour, kneeling and facing the church; on his right hand is his wife, and children, and, on his left, his wife and other children, the issue of the respective marriages, also kneeling and looking towards the principal effigy; it is richly embellished in the taste of the time, and the colours of the dresses are very properly preserved; on the pedestal is the following inscription :--

Here lyeth the body of sir Rowland Hayward, knt. twice lord mayor of this city of London, being an alderman the space of years, and, at his death, the antientest alderman of the said city. He lived beloved of all good men, and died in great credit and reputation on the , Anno Domini, , and the year of the reign of our sovereign lady queen Elizabeth. He had virtuous wives, and by them many happy children.

Beneath this are the arms of the clothworkers' company, and the following inscription:

On rebuilding this church in

1777

, this monument was repaired and beautified at the expense of the parish. Sir R. Hayward having been a liberal benefactor, this monument was again erected to perpetuate his memory.

It will be seen that the estimate for the present church was very low. The parish deeming the expense of an architect unnecessary, employed Mr. Staines, then a stone mason and pavior, to design and execute the structure.

[] Sheriff in 1563, lord mayor 1570.