Sir Christopher Wren's City Churches: A Critical Reappraisal

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed 89 of the City's parish churches, Christopher Wren was chosen to be the architect responsible for rebuilding 51 replacement churches. Remarkably he completed this task in less than fifty years to an extraordinarily high standard of design and workmanship. This dissertation considers how, in practical terms, Wren was able to work with such efficiency so that it can provide an answer to the challenging question of how he was able to build so much so quickly. To do so, it clarifies the workings of Wren's architectural practice by identifying the individuals employed in it and the jobs they performed. It then turns to the master masons who actually worked at the building sites in order to explain their role in the process. Finally, two case studies are considered: the churches of St. Bride's and St. Stephen Walbrook. Through an in-depth investigation of archival and visual evidence, a thorough building history is produced that illuminates the process by which two churches were constructed. This evidence demonstrates that Wren's effectiveness as an architect can be attributed to his ability to lead and organize an extremely competent office and a large number of talented craftsmen. While he conceived splendid designs and provided overall direction, he also knew when to trust his subordinates and when to intervene. It was his ability to retain control over such a massive project, while at the same time remaining one step removed from the day-to-day affairs, that allowed the rebuilding of the City churches to progress rapidly according to his plans. The career of Sir Christopher Wren marks a critical turning-point in the development of the architectural profession in England. He introduced the most modern forms of architecture to the country and the most up-to-date practices. By clarifying not only the artistic but also the problem-solving dimension of Wren's process of design, this dissertation revises the prevailing view of him as a solitary genius and provides a new understanding of the rebuilding of London and his architectural practice.