S. Wale delin. Elliot sculp.
Bloomsbury Church.
George court, 1. Bennet’s hill.* 2. Coleman street.* 3. East Smithfield.* 4. George street, Conduit street.* 5. George street in the Mint.* 6. Gravel lane.* 7. Hatton Wall.* 8. St. John’s lane.* 9. Little St. Thomas Apostles.* 10. Near Newington Turnpike.* 11. Prince’s street, Spitalfields.* 12. Seacole lane, Snow hill.*
George Inn yard, in the Borough.*
George lane, St. Botolph lane.*
George’s buildings, 1. Catharine Wheel alley, Whitechapel.† 2. Near Rosemary lane.† 3. Jermain street.†
St. George’s Bloomsbury, is one of the fifty new churches appointed to be built by act of parliament within the bills of mortality. The name of St. George was given to it in honour of his present Majesty; and it received the additional epithet of Bloomsbury, from its situation, to distinguish it from others of the same name.
The portico through which you enter the church stands on the south side, as is represented in the print. It is of the Corinthian order, and makes a very good figure in the street, but has no affinity to the church, which is very heavy, and would be better suited with a Tuscan portico. The tower and steeple at the west, is a very extraordinary structure. On the top standing on a round pedestal or altar, is a colossal statue of the late King, supported by a pyramid. At the corners near the base are alternately placed the lion and unicorn the British supporters, with festoons between: these animals being very large, are injudiciously placed over columns very small, which makes them appear monsters. The under part is heavy enough, but not connected with the church. The introduction of figures and other pieces of sculpture into steeples, which are so much the work of fancy, and where the artist is not so much confined as in the other parts of the building, if managed with taste and propriety might be made elegant ornaments, and would make a fine variety with the architectonic ones with which the city already abounds.
This church was erected at the public expence, and consecrated in January 1731. A district for its parish was by authority of parliament taken out of that of St. Giles’s, and the sum of 3000l. was given towards the support of its Rector, to which being added 1250l. by the inhabitants of St. Giles’s parish, both sums were ordered to be laid out in the purchase of lands, tenements, &c. in fee simple, as a perpetual fund for the maintenance of the Rector and his successors; but the poor of this parish and that of St. Giles’s in the Fields, are to be maintained by the joint assessment of both parishes, in the same manner as before their being divided.
St. George’s Botolph lane, is like all the other churches of this name, dedicated to St. George of Cappadocia, the martyr and tutelar saint of the English nation, and is situated on the west side of Botolph lane, Thames street. The old church was destroyed by the fire of London in 1666, and the present edifice built in its stead. It is enlightened with a single series of tall windows, and the steeple consists of a plain tower ornamented with vases at the four corners.
This is a rectory in the gift of the Crown; and to this parish that of St. Botolph’s Billingsgate is united by act of parliament.