St Alfege's Church

St Alfege's Church is a Church Of England place of worship in the town centre of Greenwich, London , and reputedly marks the place where Alfege (also spelt ' Alphege '), Archbishop Of Canterbury , was killed by Viking raiders on 19 April 1012 .

The second church built on this site was constructed around 1290 . It was here that Henry VIII was Baptised in 1491 .

During a storm in 1710 the building collapsed, having had its Foundation weakened by burials both inside and outside. The current building, incorporating the earlier Tower , was designed by Baroque Architect Nicholas Hawksmoor in 1714 , and was funded by the Commission For Building Fifty New Churches .

The tower later became unsafe and was encased within a new tower designed by John James in 1730 .

During the Blitz on March 19 , 1941 , Incendiary Bombs landed on the Roof causing it to collapse, burning into the Nave . The Wall s and the tower remained standing, but much of the interior was gutted. The church was restored by Sir Albert Richardson in 1953 .

The church is also associated with Renaissance Composer Thomas Tallis and General James Wolfe , both of whom are buried there. Noted Merchant , Lloyds Underwriter and Art collector John Julius Angerstein was a Churchwarden there during the early 19th Century .

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