Close to St Paul’s Cathedral at 4 Foster Lane, St Vedast alias Foster is a Wren-rebuilt Anglican church with a quiet courtyard tucked away from the City streets. Inside, look for the carved pulpit and font cover by Grinling Gibbons, modern stained glass and a patterned floor. The courtyard has a Roman mosaic fragment, a Jacob Epstein sculpture and other historic pieces. It is a calm stop for church architecture and a moment of quiet near the cathedral.
A church shaped by the City’s history
St Vedast alias Foster was rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of London. Its interior also brings together fittings, an organ and other church furnishings from City churches that were destroyed in the Blitz. Look around the room to see how these pieces sit alongside the church’s own architecture.
The interior includes a plaster ceiling, stained-glass windows and a distinctive patterned floor. The steeple is Baroque, while the stained glass is modern. A collegiate arrangement of pews gives the seating a different layout from a simple line of rows.
Carved details and the courtyard
The pulpit and font cover, both carved by Grinling Gibbons, are among the church’s notable fittings. Give them a closer look, then step into the small courtyard if it is open.
Objects set into the courtyard walls include part of a Roman mosaic pavement and a section of cuneiform text. There is also a profile sculpture by Jacob Epstein and a plaque honouring a soldier who served three empires. The garden provides a quiet place to pause near the busy area around St Paul’s Cathedral.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is St Vedast alias Foster?
The church is at 4 Foster Lane, near St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
What can you see inside the church?
Look for the pulpit and font cover carved by Grinling Gibbons, modern stained glass, a plaster ceiling and a patterned floor.
What is in the courtyard?
The courtyard has a Roman mosaic fragment, a profile sculpture by Jacob Epstein, a section of cuneiform text and a tribute to a soldier who served three empires.
When is a good time to visit?
A weekday is a good choice if you want access to both the church interior and courtyard; weekend access may be limited.
