View source for St Clement Danes

{{About||the civil parish abolished in 1922|St Clement Danes (parish)|the English writer who took her name from the church|Clemence Dane}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox church
| name             = St Clement Danes
| fullname         = 
| color            = 
| image            = St Clement Danes, Strand (geograph 5590980).jpg
| imagesize        = 
| caption          = 
| landscape        = 
| denomination     = [[Church of England]]
| previous denomination = 
| churchmanship    = [[Anglo-Catholic]] and [[Ecumenical]] [[RAF]]
| diocese          = [[Diocese of London]]
| parish           = 
| division         = 
| subdivision      = 
| founded_date     = 
| founder          = 
| architect        = [[Christopher Wren]]
| style            = [[Baroque]]
| heritage designation = Grade I
| years built      = several, most recently 1682
| dedicated_date   = 
| closed_date      = 
| demolished_date  = 
| bishop           = 
| priest           = 
| archdeacon       = 
| dean             = 
| provost          = 
| rector           = 
| canon            = 
| prebendary       = 
| curate           = 
| chaplain         = Reverend (Wg Cdr) Ashley Mitchell KHC
| vicar            = 
| deacon           = 
| abbot            = 
| minister         = 
| seniorpastor     = 
| pastor           = 
| director         = Simon Over {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}
| organist         = Charlie Newsome-Hubbard {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}
| businessmgr      = Katya Johnston
| location         = [[City of Westminster]], [[London]]
| country          = England
| phone            = 
| website          = {{URL|stclementdanesraf.org}}
| osgraw           = TQ 30976 81040
}}

'''St Clement Danes''' is an [[Church of England|Anglican]] church in the [[City of Westminster]], [[London]]. It is now situated near the 19th-century [[Royal Courts of Justice]] on the [[Strand, London|Strand]] in [[Aldwych]]. Although the first church on the site was reputedly founded in the 9th century by the [[Danes]], the current building replaced the medieval church building and was completed in 1682 by celebrated architect Sir [[Christopher Wren]]. Wren's building was gutted by ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' bombing raids during [[the Blitz]] and not restored until 1958, when it was adapted to its current function as the central church of the [[Royal Air Force]].

The church might be the one featured in the nursery rhyme "[[Oranges and Lemons]]" and the bells do indeed play that tune every day at 9 am, noon, 3pm and 6pm—as reported in 1940 the church's playing of the tune was interrupted during World War II due to Nazi bombing.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Layman's Magazine of the Living Church, Issues 1-20 |date=1940 |publisher=Morehouse-Gorham |page=5}}</ref> However, [[St. Clement's, Eastcheap|St Clement's Eastcheap]], in the [[City of London]], is also possibly the church from the rhyme. St Clement Danes is known as one of the two 'Island Churches'  in The Strand (centred in the thoroughfare), the other being [[St Mary-le-Strand]].
{{listen|filename=StClementsDanes.ogg|title=Bells of St Clement's|description=Bells playing ''[[Oranges and Lemons]]''}}

==History==

===Connection to the Danes===
There are several possible theories as to the connection between the [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]] and the origins of the church. A popular theory is that in the 9th century, the Danes colonized the village of [[Aldwych]] on the river between the [[City of London]] and the future site of [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]]. This was during the [[Danelaw]] and London was on the dividing line between the English and the Danes. The Danes founded a church at Aldwych, hence the final part of its name<ref name="Archaeological_Society">{{cite book |title=Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, Volume 55 |year=2004 |publisher=Bishopsgate Institute |location=London |page=29}}</ref> (in Latin it was known as ''Ecclesia Clementes Danorum''). However; Aldwych is an English name and doesn't seem to have any Danish influence. An alternative view is that after [[Alfred the Great]] had driven the Danes out of the City of London and they had been required to accept Christianity, Alfred stipulated the building of the church.<ref name="Partington">{{cite book |last=Partington |first=Charles Frederick |title=National history and views of London and its environs |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalhistory00partgoog |year=1834 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nationalhistory00partgoog/page/n301 191]|publisher=A. Bell }}</ref> In either case, being a seafaring people, the Danes named the church they built after [[Pope Clement I|St Clement]], [[patron saint]] of mariners.<ref>{{cite book |last=Perkins |first=Les |title=Flight into Yesterday |year=2002 |publisher=Trafford Publishing |page=468 |isbn=978-1552129890 }}</ref>

Other possible ideas are that in the 11th century after [[Siward, Earl of Northumbria]], killed the Dane [[Tosti, Earl of Huntingdon]], and his men, the deceased were buried in a field near London and a memorial church was subsequently built to honour the memory of the Danes. Also possible is that the Danish connection was reinforced by a massacre recorded in the [[Jómsvíkinga saga]] when a group of unarmed Danes who had gathered for a church service were killed.<ref name="Archaeological_Society"/> The 12th-century historian [[William of Malmesbury]] wrote that the Danes burnt the church on the site of St Clement Danes before they were later slain in the vicinity. Another possible explanation for the name is that, as King [[Harold Harefoot|Harold I "Harefoot"]] is recorded as having been buried in the church in March 1040, the church acquired its name on account of Harold's Danish connections.<ref name="Partington"/>

===Medieval church===
The church was first rebuilt by [[William the Conqueror]], and then again later in the [[Middle Ages]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Norden |first=John |author-link=John Norden |date=1 January 2001 |editor-last=Nichols |editor-first=John |editor-link=John Nichols (printer) |title=The Progresses of Queen Elizabeth (1788–1823) |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=136 |chapter=Appendix 6 John Norden's Description of Westminster including Queen Elizabeth's Palaces |isbn=978-0199551422 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NlacAQAAQBAJ}}</ref>

A new chancel was built over part of the churchyard in 1608, at a cost of more than £1,000, and various repairs and improvements to the tower and other parts of the church cost £496 in 1618.

Shortly after the [[Great Fire of London|Great Fire of 1666]], further repairs to the steeple were attempted, but these were found impractical, and the whole tower was rebuilt from the foundations. Work was completed in 1669. Soon afterwards it was decided that the rest of the church was in such a poor state that it too should be completely rebuilt.<ref name=ric>{{cite book|title=Repetorium Ecclesiasticum Parochiale Londinense|author-link=Richard Newcourt (historian)|last=Newcourt|first=Richard|location=London|pages=590–2|year=1708|volume=1}}</ref> Wren employed [[Edward Pierce (sculptor)|Edward Pierce]] (with whom he worked on many churches) to create the ornate interior.<ref>Dictionary of British Sculptors 1660–1851 by Rupert Gunnis</ref>

===Seventeenth-century rebuilding===
[[File:Saint Clement Danes Church, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|right|Interior of the church, looking east]]
St Clement Danes was rebuilt between 1680 and 1682 to a design by Sir [[Christopher Wren]], incorporating the existing tower which was reclad. The new church was constructed from [[Portland stone]], with an [[apse]] at the east end.<ref name=past>{{cite web|title=St Clement Danes Church|website=Pastscape|url=http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk/hob.asp?hob_no=965869|access-date=5 May 2015}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
A steeple was added to the tower in 1719 by [[James Gibbs]].<ref name=past/>

The interior has galleries on three sides supported by square pillars, continued above gallery level as [[Corinthian columns]], supporting, in turn, a [[Barrel vault|barrel-vaulted]] ceiling. Wren used the same scheme again at [[St James's Church, Piccadilly]], begun two years later. Above the galleries, each bay has a cross vault, allowing the building to be lit from large round-headed windows on the upper level.<ref>{{cite book|first=Margaret|last=Whinney|title=Wren|publisher=Thames and Hudson|location=London|isbn=0500201129|page=[https://archive.org/details/wren00whin/page/57 57]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wren00whin/page/57|year=1998}}</ref>

===Later history===
[[File:St Clement Danes on fire.jpg|thumb|upright|St Clement Danes ablaze on 10 May 1941]]
[[William Webb Ellis]], often credited with the invention of [[Rugby football]] in 1823, was once [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] of the church and is commemorated by a memorial tablet.

In 1844, [[St. Clement Danes School]] was constructed on land on Houghton Road, Holborn which the churchwardens had purchased in 1552. It opened in 1862 and remained there until 1928, then moved to [[Shepherd's Bush]] until 1975, when it was finally re-established as a comprehensive school in [[Chorleywood]], [[Hertfordshire]].

The church was almost destroyed by ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' bombing raids during [[the Blitz]] on 10 May 1941. The outer walls, the tower and Gibbs's steeple survived the raids, but the interior was gutted by fire. As a result of the blaze, the church's ten bells fell to the ground.  Subsequently, they were placed in storage and were recast after the war.<ref name="bblm1">{{cite web |title=St. Clement Danes |url=https://bbm.org.uk/of-interest/places-of-interest/st-clement-danes-church/ |website=Battle of Britain London Monument |access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

===As the Central Church of the Royal Air Force===
Following an appeal for funds by the [[Royal Air Force]], the church was completely restored under the supervision of Sam Lloyd.<ref>{{cite news|author=Christopher Lucas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/oct/14/sam-lloyd-obituary |title=Sam Lloyd obituary &#124; Art and design |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> In 1958, St Clement Danes Church was reconsecrated in the presence of [[Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II]] and his Royal Highness [[Prince Philip]] Duke of Edinburgh as the Central Church of the Royal Air Force.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stclementdanesraf.org/1941-2021/|title=1941|first=David|last=Rice|date=23 December 2021|website=St Clement Danes Church}}</ref>

As part of the rebuilding, the following inscription was added under the restored [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal coat of arms]]:

{{Blockquote|{{font|AEDIFICAVIT CHR WREN<br />AD MDCLXXII<br />DIRUERUNT AERII BELLI<br />FULMINA AD MCMXLI<br />RESTITUIT REGINAE CLASSIS<br />AERONAUTICA AD MCMLVIII|font=Latin}}}}

which may be translated as: "Christopher Wren built it 1672. The thunderbolts of aerial warfare destroyed it 1941. The Royal Air Force restored it 1958."<ref>{{cite book |last=Howard |first=Alexander |title=Endless Cavalcade: A Diary of British Festivals and Customs |year=1964 |publisher=Arthur Barker Ltd |page=66 }}</ref> [Error in the inscription: MDCLXXII should be MDCLXXXII, i.e. 1682 not 1672]

==Current worship and services==
The church is known for its excellent [[Anglican]] choral tradition of [[Eucharist]] and [[Matins]] (on Sundays, at 1100) At its roots it is [[Anglican]] and is also known for its [[ecumenical]] representation of the [[RAF Chaplains Branch]]. Services are regularly held and open to the public. Special services take place to commemorate prominent occasions of the RAF and its associated organisations. [[Royal Air Force Music Services]] provides first class musical support. The [[King's Colour Squadron]], formerly the Queen's Colour Squadron, attends at events and ceremonies charged with the safe-keeping of the [[King's Colour]] for the [[Royal Air Force]] and other ceremonial duties at the RAF's central church.

*Saint Clement is commemorated every April at St Clement Danes, a modern clementine custom/revival. The Reverend [[Roman Baths, Strand Lane#William Pennington Bickford|William Pennington-Bickford]] initiated the service in 1919 to celebrate the restoration of the famous church bells and carillon, which he'd had altered to ring out the popular nursery rhyme. This special service for children ends with the distribution of oranges and lemons to the boys and girls. Formerly William Bickford, William Pennington-Bickford (died 1941) was Rector from 1910 to 1941 and he and his wife Louisa became known for their devotion to the welfare of the parish. (He had succeeded his father-in-law in the benefice.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.btinternet.com/~friends.stjames/Pennington_two.htm |title=Thorley's Amazing Connections: The Pennington Files, part two |author=Bill Hardy |access-date=18 September 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722095947/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.btinternet.com%2F%7Efriends.stjames%2FPennington_two.htm |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*In 2008, the church was one of the venues where people gathered as part of the Armed Forces Day of Prayer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eauk.org/idea/christians-in-the-line-of-fire.cfm|title = Idea: Christians in the line of fire}}</ref> 
*In 2013 a short service was held for Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. The coffin was then transferred to a [[gun carriage]] drawn by the [[King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery]]. The cortège then continued along [[Fleet Street]] towards [[St Paul’s Cathedral]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-role-in-funeral-of-lady-thatcher | title=Armed Forces' role in funeral of Lady Thatcher }}</ref> 
*On the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the RAF, celebrations took place at St Clement Danes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-news/westminster-abbey-celebrates-the-centenary-of-the-raf/|title = Westminster Abbey celebrates the centenary of the RAF}}</ref>
*In 2025, St Clement Danes hosted a special service marking the 25th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel serving in [[His Majesty's Armed Forces]]. The service was organised and introduced by the Resident Chaplain, the Reverend Mark Perry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reverend Mark Perry |url=https://www.ataloss.org/padre-mark-perry |website=AtaLoss.org |access-date=7 July 2025}}</ref> The sermon was delivered by the Deputy Chaplain-in-Chief Personnel, the Reverend Ruth Hake,<ref name="Crockford">{{Cite web |title=The Revd Ruth Victoria Hake (née Jackson) |website=Crockford’s Clerical Directory |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/people/257/the-revd-ruth-victoria-hake-(n%c3%a9e-jackson) |access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref> and the [[Chaplain-in-Chief]] of the Royal Air Force, [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Giles Legood]], together with the Reverend Andy Chapman,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Revd Andrew John Luke Chapman |website=Crockford’s Clerical Directory |url=https://www.crockford.org.uk/people/10096/the-revd-andrew-john-luke-chapman |access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref> Padre to the LGBTQ+ defence community, also took part in the service. The service was broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship on 23 February 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028b65 |title=Service marking 25 years since the lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ personnel in the Armed Forces |publisher=BBC |access-date=24 Feb 2025}}</ref>

==Community of the Cross of Nails==

The Central Church of the RAF is a member of [[Coventry Cathedral]] Community of the Cross of Nails. The three guiding principles are Healing the wounds of history, Learning to live with difference and celebrate diversity, and Building a culture of justice and peace. The Community of the Cross of Nails is guided by the words 'Father Forgive', and praying the Litany of Reconciliation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community of the Cross of Nails Partners |url=https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/uploads/media/CCN-Partner-list-March-2023.pdf |website=coventrycathedral.org}}</ref> "The Cross of Nails is a symbol of hope and friendship in the aftermath of conflict." [[Archbishop]] [[Justin Welby]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/priorities/reconciliation/cross-nails | title=The Cross of Nails }}</ref>

==The Friends of St Clement Danes==
The Friends of St Clement Danes support the work and ministry of the Central Church of the Royal Air Force. The Friends' Patron-in-Chief is [[Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester]], and its Patron is [[Air Chief Marshall]] [[Rich Knighton|Sir Richard Knighton]] Chief of the Air Staff<ref>https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/st-clement-danes-church/friends-of-st-clement-danes// RAF MOD official website. Retrieved 25 August 2022.</ref>

==Resident Chaplains==

St Clement Danes, the Central Church of the [[Royal Air Force]] is led by a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Chaplain]] appointed by the [[Chaplain-in-Chief]]. In 1958, Gerald Groves became the inaugural Resident Chaplain for the church's re-consecration in the presence of [[HM Queen Elizabeth II]] following the destruction caused by [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://stclementdanesraf.org/history/ | title=History | date=9 August 2019 }}</ref>
 
{{div col}}
*1958–1959 Gerald Groves {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Groves | forenames = Gerald| id = 37176 | accessed = 19 August 2019}}</ref>
*1959–1960 Hugh Rees {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|MA|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Rees | forenames = Hugh| id = 12673 | accessed = 19 August 2019}}</ref>
*1960–1965 Tom Ryder {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Ryder | forenames = Tom| id = 19728 | accessed = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
*1965–1969 [[Leonard Ashton]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Ashton | forenames = Leonard| id = 11522 | accessed = 21 August 2019}}</ref>
*1969–1971 Walter Pellant {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|QHC|AKC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Pellant| forenames = Walter| id = 12679 | accessed = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
*1971–1976 Thomas Thomas {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Thomas | forenames = Thomas| id = 23753 | accessed = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
*1976–1979 [[Glyndwr Renowden]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|QHC|FRSA|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Renowden | forenames = Glyndwr| id = 19303 | accessed = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
*1979–1982 Dennis Clark {{Postnominals|country=GBR|MBE|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Clark | forenames = Dennis| id = 11650 | accessed = 4 September 2019}}</ref>
*1982–1984 Raymond Hubble {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Raymond | forenames = Hubble| id = 35791 | accessed = 18 November 2019}}</ref>
*1984–1987 Roger Kenward {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Kenward | forenames = Roger| id = 38963 | accessed = 18 November 2019}}</ref>
*1987–1989 Michael Stokes {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Stokes | forenames = Michael | id = 38811 | accessed = 18 November 2019}}</ref>
*1989–1991 William Sirr {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Sirr | forenames = William | id = 19305| accessed = 8 February 2020}}</ref>
*1991–1993 Anthony Goode {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Goode | forenames = Anthony| id = 27339 | accessed = 8 February 2020}}</ref> 
*1993–1995 George McAvoy {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = McAvoy | forenames = George | id = 19299 | accessed = 8 February 2020}}</ref>
*1995–1997 [[Peter Bishop (priest)|Peter Bishop]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|QHC|FRSA|size=90%}}
*1997–2002 David Mackenzie {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|FRSA|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Mackenzie | forenames = Anthony | id = 26936 | accessed = 8 February 2020}}</ref>
*2002–2005 Christopher Long {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|QHC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Long | forenames = Christopher | id = 9592 | accessed = 2 May 2020}}</ref>
*2005–2009 Thomas Lee {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|AKC|FRSA|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Lee | forenames = Thomas| id = 30263 | accessed = 2 May 2020}}</ref>
*2008–2010 Canon Adrian Gatrill<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Gatrill | forenames = Adrian| id = 25154 | accessed = 2 May 2020}}</ref>
*2010–2022 David Osborn {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|QHC|AKC|size=90%}}<ref>{{Crockford| surname = Osborn | forenames = David | id = 25478 | accessed = 2 May 2020}}</ref>
*2022–2025 Mark Perry {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MStJ|FRSA|size=90%}}<ref name="auto">{{Crockford |surname=Perry |forenames=Mark |id=16053 |accessed=25 August 2022}}</ref>
*2025 - present Ashley Mitchell {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|KHC|size=90%}} <ref>{{Crockford |surname = Mitchell |forenames = Christopher Ashley |id = 20840 |accessed = 1 August 2025}}</ref> {{div col end}}

==Directors of Music==
* 1958–1992 [[Martindale Sidwell]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}
* 1992–2015 Peter Long {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}
* 2015–present [[Simon Over]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}
Assistant Directors of Music

* 2016-present Charlie Newsome-Hubbard {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|FRCO|size=90%}}

==Royal Air Force features==
There are features throughout and outside the building commemorating people and units of the RAF.

===Statues===
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| total_width = 280
| image1 = Arthur Harris, London.JPG
| image2 = Hugh Dowding statue, London.JPG
| footer = Statues of [[Arthur Harris|Sir Arthur Harris]] (left), and [[Hugh Dowding, 1st Baron Dowding]], outside St Clement Danes
}}
Outside the church stand statues of two of the RAF's wartime leaders, [[Arthur Harris|Arthur "Bomber" Harris]] and [[Hugh Dowding]], both by the sculptor [[Faith Winter (artist)|Faith Winter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sculptors.org.uk/past-members/faith-winter |title=Faith Winter FRBS (1927–2017)|website=Royal Society of Sculptors|access-date=21 October 2021}}</ref>

The erection of the statue of Harris was controversial due to his responsibility for the [[Bombing of Dresden in World War II|bombing of Dresden]] and other bombing campaigns against German cities. Despite protests from Germany, including from the mayors of [[Mayor of Dresden|Dresden]] and [[Mayor of Hamburg|Hamburg]] as well as some in Britain, the Bomber Harris Trust (an RAF veterans' organisation) erected a statue of him outside the RAF Church of St. Clement Danes in 1992. It was unveiled by [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Lambourne |first=Nicola |title=War damage in Western Europe |url=https://archive.org/details/wardamageinweste0000lamb |url-access=registration |year=2001 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |isbn=978-0748612857 |page=[https://archive.org/details/wardamageinweste0000lamb/page/129 129]}}</ref> who looked surprised when she was jeered by protesters. The line on the statue reads "The Nation owes them all an immense debt". The statue had to be guarded by policemen day and night for some time as it was frequently sprayed with [[graffiti]].

===Memorials and Honours===
[[File:Polish airforce memorial, St Clements.jpg|thumb|left|The Polish Air Forces memorial on the floor of the church]]
The floor of the church, of [[Wales|Welsh]] [[slate]], is inscribed with the [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|badges]] of over 800 RAF commands, groups, stations, squadrons and other formations. Near the entrance door is a ring of the badges of [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] [[air force]]s, surrounding the [[Badge of the Royal Air Force|badge of the RAF]].

A memorial to the [[Polish Air Forces in Great Britain|Polish airmen]] and squadrons who fought in the defence of the United Kingdom and the liberation of Europe in the [[World War II|Second World War]] is positioned on the floor of the north aisle.

Books of Remembrance listing the names of all the RAF personnel who have died in service, as well as those [[United States|American]] airmen based in the United Kingdom who died during the Second World War.

Near the altar are plaques listing the names of RAF, [[Royal Flying Corps]], [[Royal Naval Air Service]], and Commonwealth personnel awarded the [[List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Air Force|Victoria Cross]] and the [[George Cross]].
{{Clear}}

===Burials===
King [[Harold Harefoot]] is recorded as being buried here, although there is no memorial.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gow_AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA121|title = The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art|year = 1869}}</ref>

There are memorials to several people associated with the RAF whose ashes are buried in St Clement Danes, including
* [[Archibald McIndoe|Sir Archibald McIndoe]], {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE|FRCS}} (1900–1960), [[Plastic surgery|plastic surgeon]] who worked for the RAF during [[World War II]]
* [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] [[Arthur Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder|Lord Tedder]], {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB}} (1890–1967)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/arthur,-baron-tedder|title=Arthur, Baron Tedder|publisher=Westminster Abbey|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>
* [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force]] [[Sholto Douglas, 1st Baron Douglas of Kirtleside|Lord Douglas of Kirtleside]],  {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|MC|DFC}} (1893–1969)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/william-sholto-douglas|title=William Sholto Douglas|publisher=Westminster Abbey|access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref>

===Donations and artefacts===
In the gallery hang the Queen's Colours and Standards of active RAF squadrons, (these Colours/Standards having been retired and replaced by newer versions), along with standards of several now disbanded squadrons plus the Royal Banner of the [[Royal Observer Corps]], (most standards of disbanded squadrons hang in the rotunda of the [[RAF College Cranwell]]).

[[Pulpit]]s, pews and chairs in the body of the church have been presented by various people, including past [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|chiefs of the Air Staff]], Sir [[Douglas Bader]] and the [[Guinea Pig Club]]. The armorial achievement of [[Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard|Lord Trenchard]] is displayed above the main entrance at the west end of the church. The [[lectern]] was a gift from the [[Royal Australian Air Force]], the Cross from the [[Air Training Corps]], the [[altar]] from the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] embassy. The church's [[baptismal font|font]] was donated by the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]], and is located in the [[crypt]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/st-clement-danes-church/|title=RAF – St Clement Danes Church|website=raf.mod.uk|access-date=2018-07-20}}</ref> The [[Paschal Candle]] was given by the [[Belgian Air Component|Royal Belgian Air Force]]. Information on the donated organ is to be found in the next section.
The [[Order of the Garter]] Banner of [[Marshal of the Royal Air Force|MRAF]] [[Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford|Lord Portal of Hungerford]] was transferred from [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]] to St Clement Danes following his death in 1971.<ref>{{cite web |title=Garter Banner Locations  |url=https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Garter-Banner-list-Oct-2018.pdf |website=St. George's Chapel Windsor |access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>

==Rectors of St Clement Danes==
John Diprose's history of St Clement Danes gives a list of rectors since 1325.<ref>{{cite book|last=Diprose|first=John|year=1876|title=Some Account of the Parish of Saint Clement Danes (Westminster) Past and Present|volume=2|url=https://archive.org/details/someaccountofpar02dipruoft/page/110|access-date=13 July 2020}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=33em}}
* 1540–1557† [[John Rixman]] <small>(also Archdeacon of Cornwall)</small>
* 1557–1559† [[Ralph Jackson (priest)|Ralph Jackson]]<ref>{{acad|id=JK549R|name=Jackson, Ralph}}</ref>
* 1559–1589† [[William Harward]]<ref>{{acad|id=HRWT546W|name=Harward, William}}</ref>
* 1589–1602† Richard Webster<ref>{{acad|id=WBSR572R|name=Webster, Richard}}</ref> <small>(also Archdeacon of Middlesex)</small>
* 1602–1617† [[John Layfield (theologian)|John Layfield]]<ref>{{acad|id=LFLT577J|name=Layfield, John}}</ref>
* 1617–1634† Roger Bates
* 1634–1678† Richard Dukeson <small>(sequestered in 1643, his place taken by Daniel Evans, [[Richard Vines (priest)|Richard Vines]], and George Masterson;<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Vines, Richard (1600?–1656)|volume=58|last=Gordon|first=Alexander}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hessayon|first=Ariel|year=2007|title=Gold Tried in the Fire: The Prophet TheaurauJohn Tany and the English Revolution|page=71|publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=978-0754655978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_wMRdH1w1ZsC&pg=PA71|access-date=29 July 2020}}</ref> Dukeson was restored in 1660<ref>{{acad|id=DK616R|name=Dukeson, Richard}}</ref>)</small>
* 1678–1708† [[Gregory Hascard]] <small>(also Dean of Windsor from 1684)</small>
* 1708–1719† William Forster<ref>{{acad|id=FRSR682W2|name=Forster, William}}</ref>
* 1720–1721 Thomas Blomer<ref>{{acad|id=BLMR696T|name=Blomer, Thomas}}</ref>
* 1721–1773† Thomas Blackwell<ref>{{acad|id=BLKL715T|name=Blackwell, Thomas}}</ref>
* 1773–1786† John Burrows
* 1786–1795† George Berkeley <small>(son of [[George Berkeley|Bishop Berkeley]], husband of [[Eliza Berkeley]])</small>
* 1795–1807 Henry Garrioch Vernon<ref>{{cite web|website=theclergydatabase.org.uk|title=Vernon, Henry Garrioch|url=https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/persons/CreatePersonFrames.jsp?PersonID=38010|access-date=11 July 2020}}</ref>
* 1807–1843† William Gurney<ref>{{acad|id=GNY784W|name=Gurney, William}}</ref>
* 1843–1855 [[William Webb Ellis]]
* 1855–1860 Skinner Chart Mason<ref>{{acad|id=M841SC|name=Mason, Skinner Chart}}</ref>
* 1860–1869 Richard Henry Killick<ref>{{acad|id=KLK838RH|name=Killick, Richard Henry}}</ref>
* 1869–1879 Robert James Simpson
* 1879–1887 John Lindsay
* 1887–1889 George Sutton Flack<ref>{{acad|id=FLK865G|name=Flack, George Sutton}}</ref>
* 1889–1910† J. J. H. Septimus Pennington<ref>{{acad|id=SPRW856JJ|name=Sparrow (post Pennington), John James Horatio Septimus}}</ref> <small>(surnamed Sparrow until 1886)</small>
* 1910–1941† William Pennington Bickford <small>(son-in-law of Septimus Pennington)</small>
{{div col end}}

† ''Rector died in post''

==Organ==
[[File:Saint Clement Danes Church Organ, London, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb|The organ of 1958]]
The earliest records of an organ are from 1690, when an organ was installed by [[Bernard Smith (organ builder)|Bernard Smith]]. This went through several rebuildings over the next 250 years, but was finally destroyed in the Second World War. A new organ, situated facing the altar in the gallery, was installed by the builder [[Harrison and Harrison]] in 1958. This was a gift from the [[United States Air Force]]. The case was made as a replica of the Father Smith organ previously destroyed. A specification of the organ can be found on the [[National Pipe Organ Register]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N16501|title=The National Pipe Organ Register – NPOR|website=npor.org.uk|access-date=2017-06-15}}</ref>

===Organists===
* [[Anthony Young (musician)|Anthony Young]] 1707–1747
* Samuel Howard 1747–1782
* Thomas Smart 1782–1803
* [[John Purkis]] 1804–1849
* [[Frederick Scotson Clark]]
* Edwin Matthew Lott 1860–1864
* [[Charles Edward Stephens]] 1864–1869
* Edmund Barnes 1869–1882
* [[Charles King Hall]] 1880–1885
* F. J. Marchment
* C. Borrow {{circa|1921}}
* D. Rayner Smith<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.organ-biography.info/index.php?id=RaynerSmith_D_20|title = Biographical Dictionary of the Organ &#124; D. Rayner-Smith}}</ref>
{{Incomplete list|date=February 2013}}

==Schools==
The church established both a primary and a secondary school.

The St Clement Danes CE Primary School (established in 1700) is located nearby on [[Drury Lane]] in [[Covent Garden]].<ref>{{cite web |
url=https://www.st-clementdanes.westminster.sch.uk/327/the-schools-history |title=St Clement Danes Church of England Primary School |accessdate=9 March 2022 }}</ref>

A secondary school was first located in [[Holborn]] (1862–1928) near to the church, then moved to [[Hammersmith]] as a [[State-funded schools (England)|state school]] run by the [[Inner London Education Authority]] as [[St Clement Danes Grammar School]] (1928–1975). It then relocated to [[Chorleywood]], Hertfordshire, initially as a [[comprehensive school]] (1975–2011), and thereafter as an [[Academy (English school)|Academy]] as '[[St Clement Danes School]]'.

==Masonic Lodge==
In 1871 a Masonic Lodge was consecrated at the request of several local Freemasons, who wanted to meet in a local Lodge instead of having to travel out of the parish. The petition was accepted by the then Grand Master, the [[Earl de Grey and Ripon]]; accordingly the St Clement Danes Lodge was formed and granted a Warrant of Constitution, along with the registration number 1351 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of England. The first meeting of the Lodge was on 4 May 1871 at the King's Head public house at 265 Strand, and the Rector of the Church, the Reverend R J Simpson, was the first Chaplain of the Lodge. The Lodge held meetings at various hotels and restaurants within the parish for many years, before amending its Constitution to allow it to meet at [[Freemasons' Hall, London|Freemasons' Hall]], Great Queen Street, London, where it still meets today.

==In fiction==
The statue of [[Dr Samuel Johnson]] at the eastern end of the church land, comes to life as the character "Dictionary", in [[Charlie Fletcher]]'s 2006 children's book about unLondon, ''[[Stoneheart]]''.

The 1949 novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' has the protagonist encountering a picture of the church from prior to the war – a building which he has known only as a ruin, never having been rebuilt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/1984/section7.html |title=1984 Part Two IV–VII Summary and Analysis |publisher=GradeSaver |access-date=2015-12-27}}</ref> (The plot of the book, written in 1948, assumes a [[Third World War]] breaking out in the early 1950s, followed by a period of deep crisis and civil war in Britain and the rise of a totalitarian regime banning all religion; thus, no one in this future had any reason to rebuild the church).

== Notable people ==
* [[Harold Harefoot]] King of England died 1040 AD
* Richard Puttenham, the possible author of ''The Arte of English Poesie'' and brother of [[George Puttenham]] (writer and literary critic), was buried in St Clement Danes on 2 July 1601<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aqRRfG0BnV4C&pg=PA296 | title=All of the Above I| isbn=978-0979125713| last1=Cook| first1=Richard Baldwin| year= 2007| publisher=Richard Baldwin Cook}}</ref>
* [[John Layfield (theologian)|John Layfield]], one of the translators of the [[King James Version of the Bible]], Rector from 1602 to 1617
* [[Thomas Otway]], buried in the churchyard of St. Clement Danes on 16 April 1685
* [[Pierre Radisson]], French fur trader and explorer and a driving force behind the [[Hudson's Bay Company]], was buried in the churchyard in July 1710.
* [[Anthony Young (musician)|Anthony Young]], organist at the church from 1707 to 1747
* [[Charles Christian Reisen]], gem-engraver, born in the [[St Clement Danes (parish)|parish of St Clement Danes]] in 1680
* [[James Burton (property developer)|James Burton, the pre-eminent property developer of Georgian London]], and father of the architect [[Decimus Burton]], married in the church on 1 March 1783.<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=Guy |title=Augustus Pugin Versus Decimus Burton: A Victorian Architectural Duel|year=1990|publisher=Cassell Publishers Ltd.|location=London|isbn=0304315613|page=18}}</ref>
* The [[Twinings|Twinings tea]] family lived and did business in the parish and, consequently, many members of the Twining family were baptised in the church, including the social reformer [[Louisa Twining]] in 1820.
* [[James Weddell]], discoverer of the [[Weddell Sea]] in Antarctica, was buried in the churchyard in 1834.
* [[Katherine de Roet]], daughter of a Herald, mistress and then third wife of [[John of Gaunt]], Duke of Lancaster, mother of the Beauforts and ancestor of Tudor and Stuart monarchs, married Sir Hugh Swynford here in c.1366
* [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s [[Death and funeral of Margaret Thatcher|funeral procession]] paused here, where her coffin was transferred from the hearse to a gun carriage before being taken to St Paul's Cathedral.
* [[William Ewart Gladstone]] – the [[Gladstone Memorial, London|Gladstone Memorial]] stands in the plaza in front of the church.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1237098|desc=Statue of W E Gladstone on island in road, Strand, WC2|grade=II|access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|London}}
* [[List of churches and cathedrals of London]]
* [[List of Christopher Wren churches in London]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Coord|51.513107|-0.113898|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

==Further reading==
* Reg Pellant, "St. Clement Danes: Church of the Royal Air Force", Saint Clement Danes (Royal Air Force) Appeal Fund, 1971.
* Eirwen E.C. Nicholson, "The St Clement Danes Altarpiece and the Iconography of post-Revolution England" in Jonathan Clark and Howard Erskine-Hill (eds.), ''Samuel Johnson in Historical Context'' (Palgrave, 2002) pp.&nbsp;55–77.
* Richard Sharp, "The Religious and Political Character of the Parish of St Clement Danes" in Jonathan Clark and Howard Erskine-Hill (eds.), ''Samuel Johnson in Historical Context'' (Palgrave, 2002), pp.&nbsp;44–55.

==External links==
{{Commons category|St Clement Danes}}
* [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/st-clement-danes-church// RAF MOD St Clement Danes Church official website]
* [https://stclementdanesraf.org// RAF St Clement Danes official website]
* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}
* [https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/units/raf-chaplains// MOD RAF Chaplains official website]
* [https://www.raf.mod.uk// MOD RAF official website]
* [http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/1984/section7.html ''1984'' – Analysis at Gradesaver]
* [http://in360degrees.co.uk/wrenchurches/data/015StClementDanes/ 360° panorama inside RAF St Clement Danes church]
* [http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/specials/london_05/reports/1011.html Mystery Worshipper Report] at the [[Ship of Fools (website)|Ship of Fools website]]

{{London landmarks}}
{{Churches in Westminster}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Clement Danes}}
[[Category:Christopher Wren church buildings in London]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Rebuilt churches in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in the City of Westminster]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1682]]
[[Category:17th-century Church of England church buildings]]
[[Category:Churches bombed by the Luftwaffe in London|Clement Danes]]
[[Category:English Baroque church buildings]]
[[Category:Military chapels]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the House of Knýtlinga]]
[[Category:Diocese of London]]
[[Category:1682 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Anglo-Norse England]]
[[Category:Strand, London]]