Wren Kin

Today marks the 284th anniversary of the death of the most famous Wren of all: Sir Christopher Wren: architect, scientist and mathematician.

If you grew up with the Wren surname most likely you heard you were related somehow, but whether or not one of Wren’s descendants made it across the Atlantic to the New World has always been hotly debated by researchers. I’ve often thought the advances in DNA research might answer the question once and for all, but until then we’ll have to settle for finding some document or record that actually says it’s true.

If one of his descendants never made it to North America, at least one tradition says his architectural skill did.

According to the College of William and Mary, an 18th century author claimed Sir Christopher Wren designed the Wren Building, “the oldest college building in the United States and the oldest of the restored public buildings in Williamsburg.”

Lately the chapel of the Wren Building has been the site of great controversy regarding the display of the Wren Chapel’s cross.

More links on the subject:
Wikipedia article on Sir Christopher Wren.
Youtube video of the inside of St. Paul’s Cathedral.