#Landmark
St Clement Danes Church, Royal Air Force Church
This was the Central Church of the Royal Air Force, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and restored after the ‘Great Fire of London’. In May 1941, the church was destroyed by fire during the Blitz in 1666. The church walls to the north show the scars of the Second World War.
Although the ‘Great Fire of London’ did not reach the church itself, it was in need of great repair afterwards. This was undertaken in 1680 and completed in 1719. Centuries later, on the night of 10 May 1941, a large-scale Luftwaffe (German Airforce) bombing raid hit the city, which became known as the ‘Hardest Night’. The raid took place from 23:02 on 10 May until 05:57 on 11 May. It was the most devasting raid to hit London during the Second World War.
Over 570 trips were flown by the Luftwaffe on that night with over 700 tonnes of high explosives dropped onto the city. 86,173 incendiary bombs were also dropped as part of the raid causing thousands of fires. The London Fire Brigade recorded at least 2,136 fires, one of which was at St Clement Danes Church. The main body of the church was destroyed by fire. Photographs on the night show the spire of the church ablaze with intense flames coming from each of the distinctive windows.
In 1958 after being rebuilt, the church was reconsecrated in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It became the Central Church of the Royal Air Force (RAF). On the outside of the church, you will find several memorials to the RAF. To the northern side are scars left of the walls from the blitz. These include large areas of damage to the stonework from blasts.
The scars of the blitz are a reminder that on that night alone, 10 to 11 May 1941, thousands of buildings being destroyed or damaged, approximately 1,436 people were killed and 1,800 seriously injured.
The church can be visited by prior appointment.