| Where: | London at the Church of St Andrew Undershaft, off Leadenhall Street |
| When: | April 5th or near date - every 3 years |
| Time: | 4pm |
Every three years (pandemics excepted) a service is held in memory of John Stow at the Church of St Andrew Undershaft in London. Stow, the celebrated Elizabethan antiquary and historian and author of the great Survey of London, is buried here and has an imposing monument which was erected by his widow. At the service the bust of the antiquary has its quill pen replaced with a fresh one (it’s the only part of the monument which isn’t made of stone) and thanks are given for Stow’s life and work. The honour of placing the quill alternates between the Master of the Merchant Taylor’s Company and the Lord Mayor or Alderman, and the event is organised by the Merchant Taylor’s Company, of which John Stow was himself a member, and the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. This is often reported as an annual custom but this is not the case.
Helpful Hints
The service is open to all and lasts about half-an-hour; it’s usually held in April (Stow died on April 5th 1605). Following a period of cancellations and postponements due to covid the most recent service took place on 22nd April 2024 at 4pm. The next is due in 2027, date yet to be announced.
When we visited there were three Stow descendants at the service!
The church takes its name from its original situation beside a Maypole – it seems apt that it is now overshadowed by other enormous erections such as the Gherkin. Nearby there is a replica Maypole and and explanation of the name on a plaque. The church is usually closed except for special events so this is also a great opportunity for church crawlers to gain access.
Click here for church contacts : http://www.st-helens.org.uk/about/contact-information
A fantastic event for an untrained historian, labouring without patronage to document a history of London. He was responsible for saving a great quantity of valuable but neglected and abandoned materials. His memorials have been held at this church since his death in 1605 and yet his name is not celebrated or remembered as those of Kings or Clerics, nor as Military or Martyred men, Poets or Playboys. I suppose he was just too much the common man? Still to be remembered, even obscurely, after 500 years is pretty remarkable
That’s very true – usually if common folk are remembered it’s for something notorious so good for John Stow!
What time of the day will the ceremony take place in 2020?
I’m desperately trying to find out at what time the ceremony starts this year. So far I’ve had no luck! As I live in Staffordshire I need to make travel arrangement in good time!
Hi Anna,
It’s at 4pm at St Andrew Undershaft and lasts around an hour. I see the website for the church isn’t working at the moment, but I had confirmation of the time and date by email from the church admin team earlier in the year so I’m confident that this is correct. Might see you there as I’m planning to go too!
Best wishes,
Averil
As this year’s John Stow Memorial Service had to be cancelled they have given a new date which is next year on April 19, 2021.
Best wishes,
Alice
Thanks Alice – pleased to hear that, as it hadn’t been finally decided upon when I asked not long ago. Fingers crossed – hoping to get there next time (had my train booked for today but alas,’twas not to be). Hope you’re keeping well & staying safe in this mad new world,
Averil
Hoping to visit the John Stow Memorial in 2021. I am not sure how much I can trust ancesrty.com, but according to their records I am a descendant of John Stow. I have a photographic memory and enjoy history, so maybe I have John to thank for a bit of this… Anyways thanks for posting the information about the Memorial service being postponed until 2021!
Thanks Michael! I’m hoping to be there too (my original plan was to go this year…) so I’ll feel particularly honoured to be in the company of one of John Stow’s descendants 🙂
Best wishes & I hope to see you there,
Averil