_St._ MARY ABCHURCH, in Abchurch lane, Candlewick ward, owes its name to its dedication to the Virgin Mary, and the additional appellation of _Ab_ or _Upchurch_, was given it on account of its elevation in comparison of the neighbouring ground towards the Thames, and to distinguish it from the many other churches of the same name in this city. A church dedicated to St. Mary has stood here from very early times; and we find that in the year 1448, it was in the patronage of the Prior and Canons of St. Mary Overy’s; but devolving to the crown in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, her Majesty granted the perpetual advowson to _Corpus Christi_ college in Cambridge, wherein it still remains, though in ecclesiastical affairs, it is subject to the Archdeacon. _Maitland._ The old church stood till it was consumed by the fire in 1666, after which the present structure was raised in its room in the year 1686. The building is of brick, strengthened by rustic quoins of stone at the corners, with three windows on each side, of which the middle one is the principal, that rising higher, and taking up the space above, while the others, which are smaller, have round windows over them; these have all stone cases. The tower rises square with the corners strengthened with rustic; and a large window in the center of each face, ornamented like the rest. From this tower rises a kind of dome, and upon its summit stands a plain spire supported by a lanthorn base. _St._ MARY ALDERMANBURY, by the north east corner of Love lane, has a fine situation, with a large area, besides the church yard in the front. A church of the same name appears from ancient records to have been situated there so early as about the year 1300; however, great part of the old structure was taken down in 1633, and rebuilt at a considerable expence; but thirty three years afterwards it was destroyed by the fire of London, and ten years after that dreadful event, it was finished in the present form. It is a plain stone building, likely to stand for ages; the body is well enlightened by a range of large well-proportioned windows, and the corners are wrought with rustic: it is 72 feet long, and 45 broad; the roof is 38 feet high, and the steeple about 90 feet. It has a plain solid tower, constructed in the same manner as the body of the church; and the angles in the upper stage are adorned with rustic: the cornice is supported by scrolls, and above it is a plain Attic course: in this rises a turret with a square base that supports the dial; this turret is arched, but the corners are massy: its roof is terminated in a point on which is placed the fane.