The site of Saint Dunstan and All Saints has been a place of worship for East Enders for over 1000 years.

The current Grade I listed building dates from the 15th century. A bomb blast during WWII may have taken out the stain glass windows but the building itself miraculously still stands.

St. Dunstan’s is also known as the “Church of the High Seas” due to its strong connections with the Merchant Navy and marine trades. You can see the Merchant Navy flag The Red Ensign flying from the tower in the picture to the right. Many mariners and merchant navy men worshipped here and were laid to rest in the churchyard.

The church’s 10 bells are referenced in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons – “Pray when will that be, say the bells of Stepney”

If you have Stepney ancestors in your family tree then it’s highly likely that you will find some trace of them at St. Dunstan’s.

Here is a guide to the parish records available…

Where Are The Original Parish Registers Held?

Saint Dunstan and All Saints only hold the most recent parish records. The older registers are kept at the London Metropolitan Archives.

The table below shows you the years covered by the registers that survive and where they are kept…

What Records Are Available Online?

Ancestry have worked in partnership with the London Metropolitan Archives to scan and transcribe their collection of parish records, which includes Saint Dunstan and All Saints. You can search the database and view the scanned images of the original parish registers here:

• London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812
• London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906
• London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921
• London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980

If you’re not already a member of Ancestry you can get a 14 Day FREE Trial here.

How Can I See The Records Not Yet Available Online?

Saint Dunstan and All Saints

You can view microfilm copies of all the archived records for free at the London Metropolitan Archives.

The records are listed in chronological order, so you will need a rough date of the event you are looking for to begin your search…

However, there are transcripts of some of the records available on microfilm allowing you to search for records by surname. The years covered by the transcripts are shown below:

Further Resources

www.stdunstanstepney.com – Saint Dunstan’s website is well worth checking out for its fantastic collection of historical photographs that capture both the church and the community it served.