A church at St Pancras was documented in 1160–80^[1] but writers have suggested that a church existed on the site as far back as 313 or 314^[2].

St Pancras Old Church was conveniently situated behind the Carpenter family home in Cook’s Row, but was derelict and in ruins. St Pancras New Church had become the parish church in 1822.  The growth in the local population had brought about the need to restore and enlarge the old church. The Survey of London: volume 19 (1938) states that the church 'which had not been materially altered since medieval times, except for the roofing of the tower and nave in the 17th-century, was drastically restored.'

The Old Church reopened in 1848 and baptisms resumed. In the family record book William Carpenter wrote: ‘Frederick and Ernest Lionel were the first children christened at the Old Church after its enlargement, the christenings having been suspended at that church for a number of years. Their names were taken down on paper by Mr Drew, the minister, to be transferred to the books at the New Church.’

Frederick Carpenter was buried in the burial grounds in April 1849. Most of the burial grounds were later swallowed up in the construction of St Pancras station.

Since the family left St Pancras in March 1853 the church has undergone further modification/restoration (in 1888, 1925, 1948 and 1978-9).

Maps showing the locate of Cook's Row and St Pancras Old Church can be found online through the following links:-

Greenwood's Map of London (1827)

Stanford Map of London (1862)

St Pancras Old Church and grounds as seen on 20th September 2003: