Named for the patron saint of cripples, St. Giles Cripplegate Church managed to survive the ravages of the Great Fire of 1666 but was so badly damaged by a World War II bomb that only the tower survived.

St. Giles was built in 1550 on the site of a previous Norman church. was refurbished during the 1950s to serve as the parish church of the Barbican development and now seems to stand awkwardly amid the uncompromising modernity of the Barbican.

English revolutionary Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier here in 1620, and the poet John Milton was buried here in 1674. More than a century later, someone opened the poet's grave, knocked out his teeth, stole a rib bone, and tore hair from his skull.

Well-preserved remains of London's Roman and medieval walls can be seen to the church's south.

Quick Facts on St. Giles Cripplegate

Site Information
Names:	St. Giles Cripplegate
Categories:	churches
Dedication:	St. Giles
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:	51.518721° N, 0.093960° W
Address:	London, England
Lodging:	View hotels near St. Giles Cripplegate

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

1. Personal visit (June 24, 2007)
2. St. Giles Cripplegate - official website
3. St. Giles Cripplegate - City of London Churches
4. St. Giles Cripplegate - Our Past History

More Information

• Photos of St. Giles Cripplegate - here on Sacred Destinations