The Parish Registers Of St Mary Woolnoth & St Mary Woolchurch Haw 1538-1760

The Parish Registers of St Mary Woolnoth & St Mary Woolchurch Haw (1538-1760)

Step through the vestry door of two of London's most historic parishes and walk in the footsteps of your ancestors.

For over two centuries, the hallowed pages of these registers captured the essential moments of life in the very heart of the city. From the bustle of Lombard Street, the financial centre of the world, to the shadows of the old Cornhill Maypole, the names within this volume are more than just entries—they are echoes of merchants, apprentices, seafarers, and saints who lived through England's most tumultuous and transformative years.

This meticulously compiled volume brings together the surviving records of St Mary Woolnoth and its now-absent neighbour, St Mary Woolchurch Haw, spanning from the very beginning of parish record-keeping in 1538 to the dawn of the Georgian era in 1760. Within these transcribed and indexed pages, you will find:

Baptisms: Discover the names of children born during the reigns of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and the Civil War.
Marriages: Trace the unions of families, from simple banns to grand ceremonies, including those performed by one of London's most famous clerics.
Burials: Uncover the final resting places of those who lived through the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666.
This is an indispensable resource for any family historian with roots in the City of London, offering a direct link to the people who shaped the world.

Whispers of Legend and Lore: The Myths of the Parishes
The ground on which these parishes stood is steeped in history and myth, adding a rich layer of intrigue to your genealogical quest.

The Legend of the Wool Church & the Roman Temple

The very name of St Mary Woolnoth is a piece of history. Local lore fiercely debates its origin. The most romantic theory speaks of a knight, Wulnoth, a follower of William the Conqueror. But the more likely, and equally compelling, story is that it derives from "Woolnot," a dedication to the wool merchants who thrived in this area. Legend even whispers that the church was built atop the foundations of a much older Roman temple, a secret hidden deep beneath its famous Hawksmoor tower. As you search for an ancestor's name, imagine the layers of history beneath their feet.

The Ghost of the Maypole at St Mary Woolchurch Haw
Before it was lost to Victorian redevelopment, St Mary Woolchurch Haw was famous for one thing: the colossal Cornhill Maypole. For centuries, this towering pole was the centre of London’s May Day festivities. Local legend tells of raucous celebrations, dancing, and merriment that filled the churchyard. But the Puritans, with their grim disapproval, saw it as a pagan idol. In 1544, it was famously torn down by a mob, an act that symbolised the end of one era and the beginning of another. The parish registers of this church hold the names of those who witnessed this very conflict—the revellers and the reformers. Did your ancestor cheer for the Maypole or for its destruction?

The Slave Trader Who Sang "Amazing Grace"
No history of St Mary Woolnoth is complete without its most famous 18th-century vicar, John Newton. Before he was a revered clergyman and hymn writer, Newton was a captain in the slave trade. His powerful conversion led him to St Mary Woolnoth, where he ministered to the very bankers and merchants of Lombard Street who were often entangled in the same trade. It was here, in the pulpit of this parish, that he mentored William Wilberforce and penned the immortal words to "Amazing Grace." The registers from his tenure (1764 onwards) capture the spiritual lives of a community grappling with immense moral change.

Who Will Benefit from This Volume?
Family Historians tracing ancestors who lived or worked in the City of London.
Social and Economic Historians researching the lives of merchants, bankers, and the working class in early modern London.
Descendants of the Mayflower Generation, as many families connected to the early transatlantic voyages had ties to London parishes.
Anyone fascinated by the history of London, from the Great Fire to the Age of Enlightenment.
Don't let your ancestors' stories remain lost in the archives of time. Order your copy of The Parish Registers of St Mary Woolnoth & St Mary Woolchurch Haw today and begin a journey into the heart of your family's London heritage.