Christ Church, Spitalfields

Spitalfields derives its name from having been built upon the fields and grounds belonging to St Mary's, Spital, which once stood on the east side of Bishopsgate Street. During the seventeenth-century persecution of Protestants (or Huguenots) in France, many of them fled to England and settled on this spot where they established many businesses based on silk weaving and production. Spitalfields became its own parish in 1723. The church was built between 1723 and 1729 and was dedicated to Christ. There was a very fine ring of bells in its tower. At the west end of the church in Georgian times was a neat brick building in which were two charity schools, one for girls and one for boys. They were built in 1782 and were supported through voluntary contributions.