On the east side of College Hill at No. 20 at its junction with College Street. In Vintry Ward (P.O. Directory).
The parish extends into Dowgate Ward.
Earliest mention: "St. Michael of Paternosterchierch," 3 H. III. (Anc. Deeds, A. 2387). "Pater Noster cherche," 1241-2 (ib. 7824). "St. Michael of Paternostres cherche," c. 1276 (ib. A. 7823). "S. Michael in the Riole," 1361 (Ct. H.W. II. 41). "S. Michael in the Roialle called Whittyngdons College," 1508-9 (ib. 614). "St. Michael called Whytyngton Colledge, alias St. Michael Pater Noster alias St. Michael in the Royall," 3 Ed. VI. (Lond. I. p.m. I. 109).
In 11 H.IV. 1409, part of a vacant plot of land in the street called "le Ryole" in thc parish of St. Michael Paternosterchirche was granted to John White, parson of the church, to build anew a parish church to St. Michael the Archangel with a cemetery (Cal. P.R. H. IV. 1408-13, p. 152).
The church to be larger than the present small, dilapidated church (Cal. L. Bk. I. pp. 77-78).
New built and made a college of S. Spirit and S. Mary founded by Richard Whittington, Mercer, Mayor (S. 244).
Letters patent granted for the foundation, 3 H. VI. (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1429-36, p. 214).
Whittington buried there.
Church repaired and beautified 1630 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 5).
No new monuments since the rebuilding, except to T. Coulson (ib.).
Burnt in the Fire, rebuilt and finished 1694 (ib. 6).
Strype describes it as in his day a curious Free-stone building with Battlements and a lofty towered steeple (ib. 13).
A Rectory. Patrons : The Mercers' Company and now the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury. A peculiar of Canterbury (ib.).
After the Fire, the parish of St. Martin Vintry was united to it.
Newcourt says it was always in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, and that the Mercers' Company only nominated the Master of Whittington's College until its suppression by Henry VIII. (I. p. 409).
Named "in the Royal" from the street of "La Riole," in which it was situated (q.v.).
It may have been called Paternoster church after the makers of Paternosters, who probably had their shops in Paternoster church lane.