 During the 16th century, several fishmongers were buried here and John Stow records that, during the reign of Elizabeth I, a lead and stone cistern, fed by the Thames, was set up against the north wall "for the care and commodity of the Fishmongers in and about Old Fish Street".Like all English churches, St Nicholas Cole Abbey became Protestant during the Reformation.Upon the accession of Queen Mary I, it was the first church to celebrate Mass (on 23 August 1553).