FOREST FIRES ARE often spontaneous and followed by new growth and renewal. London has been destroyed by fire twice (not spontaneous!), in 1666 and in 1940, and each time it has undergone regeneration. After the earlier conflagration that destroyed many of the city’s churches, new ones were built to the designs of Christoper Wren (1632-1723). One of these churches, which was damaged by bombing and fire in 1940, and restored to its former glory after WW2, is St Lawrence Jewry.

The church was first built in the twelfth century (c 1136), close to London’s Roman amphitheatre and the early mediaeval Jewish ghetto. It was destroyed during the Great fire of London in 1666. A new church, designed by Wren, was constructed between 1670 and 1677 on the site of the first church. This spacious, lofty church was destroyed during the Blitz on 29 December 1940. And in 1957, it was restored by the architect Cecil Brown to Wren’s original design. Like the legendary phoenix, it rose from the ashes.

The church stands near London’s Guildhall, and hosts regular lunchtime concerts on Tuesdays. We attended one today, 16 June 2026. The Norwegian baritone Jan-Magnar Gard sung lieder and other songs accompanied by the pianist Niall Townley. Both these accomplished musicians are postgraduate students at the Guildhall School of Music. It was an enjoyable experience hearing them perform within the well-maintained, beautiful, almost square nave of the church, under its decorative ceiling.

St Lawrence Jewry was so-called because of its proximity to the place where Jewish people were permitted to live and trade. Not far from the church, in a street called Old Jewry, there is an interesting memorial plaque. It reads:

“The Great Synagogue stood near this site until 1272.”

King William I (1066-1087) is believed to have encouraged Jewish people to migrate to Britain. However, English prejudice and agitations against the Jews increased gradually until it reached a peak in the thirteenth century. For this reason, the synagogue closed in 1272. And soon after 1290, Jewish people were expelled from England. It was not until the 1650s during the Commonwealth of England headed by Oliver Crowell that they began returning to this island.