A Landmark for Limehouse
Designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor, St Anne’s Limehouse is one of the great masterpieces of English Baroque architecture.
This awe-inspiring Grade I listed church, built from 1712 to 1724 and consecrated in 1730, has a rich maritime history. Its imposing 50m tower was designed as a landmark visible to shipping on the Thames. Its clock, resting on the tower, is the highest clock on any London church and has a special maritime design which underlines the strong historical ties between the church and the Royal Navy. It chimed every 15 minutes to help guide the 6000 ships that used the Limehouse docks daily. Over the clock is a golden ball, used as a navigation mark by ships sailing on the Thames. From its foundation, the history of the church has been intertwined with the history of Limehouse’s diverse communities and its maritime personnel, both those who lived in the area and those who arrived at its ports and docks. Queen Anne allowed the church to display the White Ensign, the second most senior flag of the Royal Navy, because its proximity to the Thames made it a convenient registry for sea captains. The flag is still displayed to this day.
Visit the Care for St Anne’s web site for more on the history and story of the building
