A grade 1 listed church which fabled London mayor Dick Whittington is thought to be buried under is now on the market.
The original church at St Michael Paternoster Royal, near Cannon Street Station, was built in the 13th century but then destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. It was rebuilt in 1694 under legendary architect Christopher Wren who also designed St Paul's Cathedral.
The church was damaged again during the second world war when it was hit by a V1 flying bomb. Only the walls and tower remained standing and it was rebuilt in the 1960s.
The church is now being offered on a 125-year lease by the London Diocesan Fund with “price on application”. The agents are Kinney Green.
Former Lord Mayor of London Richard Whittington is thought to have been buried at the earlier building.
In English folklore Dick Whittington was thought to have been a poor orphan who sets off to the capital to make his fortune having been told that the streets are paved with gold but finds himself hungry and homeless. He later uses his cat to help control the rat population and makes enough money to become wealthy.
It's never been confirmed if this story matches the real-life one of Richard Whittington who was a medieval mayor of London in the late 14th, early 15th century.
Since the late 1960's the church has had office space, and the building was let to the Mission to Seafarers in 1968. In 2017 they gave notice, moving out four years later.
Speaking to The Church Times The London Diocesan Fund (LDF) said: “Like many church buildings, it now requires significant further investment for any future use, whereas the funds released from the sale will enable investment in present day churches, parishes and projects across the diocese.”
New buyers will be able to use it for business purposes and under Class E of the Town and Country Planning Act it will no longer a place of worship subject to consent from the Diocese of London and Church Commissioners.