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St Dunstan's Church is
located on Stepney High
Street. A church has stood
on the site prior to 952AD,
when a stone church was
erected, replacing the
previous wooden structure.
The existing building is the
third church to be built on
this site and was erected in
1580. There are ten bells in
the belfry, dating back to
1385, some which were made
at the local
Whitechapel
Bell Foundry. St Dunstan's
has a long traditional link
with the sea and it was once
known as the 'Church of the
High Seas'. Many sailors
were buried in the
churchyard. The phrase "When
will that be?" could
possibly refer to wives
waiting for sailors to
return from voyages with
their fortunes, when their
'boat came in'. This was
particularly relevant during
the 16th and 17th centuries
when many sailors were
employed on Voyages of
Discovery to the New Worlds
- their wives would have to
wait for their return to
receive any wages, but they
never knew how long the
voyages might be - a two
year wait was not uncommon! |
