ST.DUNSTAN-IN-THE-WESTTOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF LONDON - BY JAMES ELMESSt.Dunstan-In-The-West,here is an extract from a digital copy of A Topographical Dictionary of London-written by James Elmes,Surveyor Of The Port Of London 1831.This book was scanned by Google Book Search and you are able to search through the full text of the book at http://books.google.com/ I found this work in The Internet Archive whilst undertaking research on James Elmes himself.
St.Dunstan-In-The-West,the church of,is situated on the north side of the west end of Fleet-st,where it has been long known as a grievous incumbrance to hackney and stage coachmen,drivers of omnibuses and country females.But as it is about to be taken down,to the infinite regret of the city pickpockets,any description of it is unnecessary.It,however ,unfortunately,for the public,narrowly escaped destruction by the Great Fire of London in 1666,the flames having been stopped within three houses of its walls.It has been several times repaired,but, it will, ere long,perhaps while these lines are being printed,be removed. It is a church of very ancient foundation,in the gift of the abbot and convent of Westminster,who in 1237 gave it to Henry III.towards the maintenance of the foundation of the house called the Rolls,for the reception of converted Jews.It was afterwards conveyed to the abbot and convent of Alnwick,in Northumberland,in whom it continued till the dissolution of the religious houses by Henry VIII.Edward VI granted the advowson of this church under the name of a vicarage to Lord Dudley.Soon after this, the Rectory and Vicarage were granted to Sir Richard Sackville,and the impropriation has ever since remained in private hands.The present vicar,is the Rev.Richard Loyd,who was instituted by the Rev.C. Simeon,and the society for purchasing livings,in 1805. There is a considerable number of benefactions for the poor of this parish,given to be distributed in money,bread and coals,which are fully described in the Report of the Parliamentary Commisioners on the Endowed Charities of the City of London.Among them is a house,No.172, in Fleet-street,let at £70 a year for the repairs of the church,and a free Grammar School,founded by letters patent of the 4th of Queen Elizabeth,to be called"The Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth,"which does not appear from the Parliamentary Reports ever to have been endowed.The Parochial Charity School is chiefly managed by a committee of subscribers. So it would appear that the demolition of the Church was very much welcomed,by the decent law abiding public.Not however,by the unscrupulous section of the population.
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