Connection to the Danes There are several possible theories as to the connection between the
Danes and the origins of the church. A popular theory is that in the 9th century, the Danes colonized the village of
Aldwych on the river between the
City of London and the future site of
Westminster. This was during the
Danelaw and London was on the dividing line between the English and the Danes. The Danes founded a church at Aldwych, hence the final part of its name (in Latin it was known as
Ecclesia Clementes Danorum). However; Aldwych is an English name and doesn't seem to have any Danish influence. An alternative view is that after
Alfred the Great had driven the Danes out of the City of London and they had been required to accept Christianity, Alfred stipulated the building of the church. In either case, being a seafaring people, the Danes named the church they built after
St Clement,
patron saint of mariners. Other possible ideas are that in the 11th century after
Siward, Earl of Northumbria, killed the Dane
Tosti, Earl of Huntingdon, and his men, the deceased were buried in a field near London and a memorial church was subsequently built to honour the memory of the Danes. Also possible is that the Danish connection was reinforced by a massacre recorded in the
Jómsvíkinga saga when a group of unarmed Danes who had gathered for a church service were killed. A new chancel was built over part of the churchyard in 1608, at a cost of more than £1,000, and various repairs and improvements to the tower and other parts of the church cost £496 in 1618. Shortly after the
Great Fire of 1666, further repairs to the steeple were attempted, but these were found impractical, and the whole tower was rebuilt from the foundations. Work was completed in 1669. Soon afterwards it was decided that the rest of the church was in such a poor state that it too should be completely rebuilt. Wren employed
Edward Pierce (with whom he worked on many churches) to create the ornate interior.
Seventeenth-century rebuilding St Clement Danes was rebuilt between 1680 and 1682 to a design by Sir
Christopher Wren, incorporating the existing tower which was reclad. The new church was constructed from
Portland stone, with an
apse at the east end. A steeple was added to the tower in 1719 by
James Gibbs.
Later history William Webb Ellis, often credited with the invention of
Rugby football in 1823, was once
rector of the church and is commemorated by a memorial tablet. In 1844,
St. Clement Danes School was constructed on land on Houghton Road, Holborn which the churchwardens had purchased in 1552. It opened in 1862 and remained there until 1928, then moved to
Shepherd's Bush until 1975, when it was finally re-established as a comprehensive school in
Chorleywood,
Hertfordshire. The church was almost destroyed by
Luftwaffe bombing raids during
the Blitz on 10 May 1941. The outer walls, the tower and Gibbs's steeple survived the raids, but the interior was gutted by fire. As a result of the blaze, the church's ten bells fell to the ground. Subsequently, they were placed in storage and were recast after the war.
As the Central Church of the Royal Air Force Following an appeal for funds by the
Royal Air Force, the church was completely restored under the supervision of Sam Lloyd. In 1958, St Clement Danes Church was reconsecrated in the presence of
Queen Elizabeth II and
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. As part of the rebuilding, the following inscription was added under the restored
Royal coat of arms: which may be translated as: "Christopher Wren built it 1672. The thunderbolts of aerial warfare destroyed it 1941. The Royal Air Force restored it 1958." [Error in the inscription: MDCLXXII should be MDCLXXXII, i.e. 1682 not 1672] ==Current worship and services==