All that remains of the church of St Martin Orgar in the city of London is it’s bell tower. The medieval church was destroyed by the great fire of London in 1666, but unlike many city churches it was not rebuilt and was merged with nearby St Clement Eastcheap. It is likely that the bells of St Martin’s referred to in the nursery rhyme #Oranges and Lemons’ are those of St Martin Orgar.
Oranges and lemons,
Say the bells of St. Clement’s.
You owe me five farthings,
Say the bells of St. Martin’s.
When will you pay me?
Say the bells of Old Bailey.
When I grow rich,
Say the bells of Shoreditch.
When will that be?
Say the bells of Stepney.
I do not know,
Says the great bell of Bow.
There was some restoration worked carried out on the remaining structure and it was home to a congregation of French Protestants until 1820 when all the remaining buildings except the bell tower were pulled down. The tower became the bell tower of St Clements and was incorporated into surrounding buildings.
