Where are the bones of Inigo Jones -
Follower of Palladio?
Favorite architect to the King
And a very famous laddie-oh!
He showed the way to Christopher Wren
The Classics to revive-oh -
And Christopher learned his lesson so well
That quite mightily he did thrive-oh!
He learned it well from Inigo Jones
And Great Saint Paul’s contains his bones -
Requiescat in pacé and Amen
To the old white bones of Christopher Wren.

Back in the year sixteen sixty and six
A terrible conflagration
Nearly burned down all of old London Town
And it shocked the English Nation
There were fifty churches burning more bright
Than any altar candle
“How now!” said the King, Surely here is a thing
That our Christopher Wren can handle!
What say the bells of Blessed Saint James
Ring out for one of our famous names -
Requiescat in pacé and Amen
To the old white bones of Christopher Wren.

Then the King said to Christopher Wren
“Speedily now design-oh!”
And Christopher met with his merry young men
Each morning sharp at nine-oh!
Fifty churches Christopher drew
In the Roman Classic manner
And the bishop he paid him in pounds and in pence
And he haggled at every tanner
What say the bells of gentle Saint Brides?
We have no fear where his soul abides
Requiescat in pacé and Amen
To the old white bones of Christopher Wren.

Soon all the churches began to rise
Burgeoning into flower
And the bishop sent petulant billets-doux
At the sight of each brave new tower
But the deacons, canons and clerics all prayed
And sang good Christopher’s praises
Blessing each stone as it new was laid
In elegant Latin phrases!
What say the bells or Londium?
Sing Laudate Dominum!
Requiescat in pacé and Amen
To the old white bones of Christopher Wren.

With Christopher’s masterpiece Great Saint Paul’s
The King was indeed delighted
And word got around in the royal halls
That Christopher would be knighted
And as he knelt in front of the King
He heard when he was kneeling
All the Bow Bells beginning to ring
And all of the others pealing
What say the bells of Mary-le Bow?
Benedicamus domino -
Requiescat in pacé and Amen
To the old white bones of Christopher Wren.