St Clement Danes Central Church for the RAF - Sightseeing, Places of Worship

St Clement Danes Central Church for the RAF

Strand, London, WC2R 1DH

According to legend, when King Alfred (871-901) expelled the Danes from the City of London, he allowed those with English wives to settle just outside the city walls. Those Danes built the first church on this site.

Sir Christopher Wren built the present church, opposite the Royal Courts of Justice, in 1682 to replace a 1399 church that was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.

In 1941 the church was again badly damaged, this time by incendiary bombs. In 1956 work began on restoring it. The Royal Air Force was the main benefactor of the church and in 1958 it was dedicated as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.

The book of remembrance inside the church lists the names of over 125,000 service men and women who lost their lives in the war. A roll of honour also commemorates over 19,000 airmen from the United States of America, who died on active service while in the United Kingdom.

The church's bell was made famous by the children's nursery rhyme 'Oranges and Lemons', '...say the bells of St Clements.'

As well as an historic building and a monument to those who gave their lives in the war, St Clements is very much a living church, with services held daily.

Opening Times
Monday - Sunday 08:00 - 17:00

Nearest Underground (Tube) Station: Temple