Editing Whitechapel (section)

===Origin and toponymy===
[[File:Stepney Civil Parish Map 1870.png|thumb|right|250px|The daughter-parishes of Stepney that would evolve into the modern [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]]]]
Whitechapel was originally part of the [[Stepney#Manor and Ancient Parish|Manor and Parish of Stepney]], but population growth resulting from its position just outside the [[Aldgate]] on the Roman Road to [[Essex]] resulted in significant population growth, so a [[chapel of ease]], dedicated to [[St Mary]] was established so people did not have to make the longer journey to Stepney's parish church [[St Dunstan's, Stepney|St Dunstans]]. The earliest known rector was Hugh de Fulbourne in 1329.

Whitechapel takes its name from that church, [[St Mary Matfelon]], which like the nearby [[White Tower (Tower of London)|White Tower]] of the [[Tower of London]] was at one time whitewashed to give it a prominent and attractive appearance. The etymology of the ''Matfelon'' element is unclear and apparently unique.

Around 1338, Whitechapel became an independent parish, with ''St Mary Matfelon'', originally a [[chapel of ease]] within Stepney, becoming the parish church.