of c.1561, showing St Mary Woollchurch Haw (marked "Q"),
St Mary Woolnoth (marked with a reversed "P") and
St Stephen's, Walbrook (marked "R"). The church of St Mary Woolchurch Haw was an ancient foundation, dating from the time of
William I, when it was given to the
Abbot and Convent of
St John's, Colchester, by
Hubert of Ryes, who was the father of
Eudo Dapifer, William's
steward. In the Charter of Endowment, it is referred to as "
St Mary of West Cheaping, which is called Newchurch"; the eastern end of
Cheapside is now called
Poultry. It became the property of the crown after the
dissolution. The name is said to be derived from a beam that was once fixed in the churchyard, which was used for weighing wool. The church was rebuilt in the reign of
Henry VI. and
John Strype recorded that it was "richly repaired and beautified, at the Charge of the Parishioners" in 1629. St Mary Woolchurch Haw was one of the 86 parish churches destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. The
parish clerk and the
sexton were able to rescue the "plate" (the silverware used during services), "the new great
Bible" and some
vestments; while the clerk was doing this, all his own property was burned. In 1670 a Rebuilding Act was passed and a committee set up under the stewardship of
Sir Christopher Wren to decide which would be rebuilt. Fifty-one were chosen, but St Mary Woolchurch Haw was not among them. The parish was united to that of
St Mary Woolnoth. The
Mansion House now stands on the site. ==Present day==