England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
St Gabriel Fenchurch

The Parish

The parish of St Gabriel Fenchurch was one of the most easterly within the ancient walls of the city of London situated no more than 300 metres north of the River Thames and covering a small area to the west of Fenchurch Street railway station. At the time of this transcript the area was still moderately inhabited with residents but today it is in the heart of the city's commercial area with few night-time inhabitants, the area being dominated by office blocks and the services that meet their needs. The parish was badly impacted by the Great Fire of London with most properties, including the church, destroyed. This area of the city has largely marshy ground hence the nickname of Fen Church for St Gabriel which in turn gave its name to the street in which it once sat. St Gabriel Fenchurch sits at just 10 metres above the sea with land only gently rising a further 5 metres within a mile or so. Despite occupying a relative tiny area compared to rural parishes nevertheless at the time of this transcript it had its coterie of around 350 parishioners. Following the Great Fire the parish was subsumed into the neighbouring parish of St Margaret Pattens, these few marriages would have physically happened in that church where there was a specially marked pew for residents of the lost parish of St Gabriel.

The Church

St Ganriel's church once stood in the middle of Fenchurch Street with traffic, then horse drawn, able to pass either side, it stood midway between Mincing & Rood Lanes. Little is known about the history of the church which appears to have changed its dedication on 3 occasions from All Hallows to St Mary and to St Gabriel from 1526, it has been speculated that it may have been dedicated to all three. As All Hallows it is first mentioned in documentary evidence from the 13th century and it is likely that the earliest parts of the church would have been in the Early English Gothic style. In a supreme case of irony it is recorded that the church was the subject of a major restoration and enhancement in 1631 just 35 years before the Great Fire. Following its destruction it was not rebuilt, its position in the middle of a major thoroughfare counted significantly towards that decision. The parish was merged into St Margaret Pattens, human memories are long, however, and from 1813 a separate register was created by St Margaret to record the marriages of residents of the lost parish, marriages from 1754 to 1812 are within St Margaret's register and not so distinguished.