London’s Oldest Church – All Hallows By The Tower

Founded in the Saxon period in AD 675, located next to the Tower of London, All Hallows By The Tower is considered to be the oldest church in London. It has witnessed historical events that shaped our ancestors’ lives, has seen rise and death of kings and queens and went through wars, invasions as well as peaceful wealthy periods in history.

If the Walls Could Talk

All Hallows By The Tower has seen the Viking invasion starting from 871. Has witnessed the building of the “Old” London Bridge in 1209 under the reign of King John as well as the building of the new London Bridge finally opened in 1831.

All Hallows has seen The Tower of London being built in the 11^th century and witnessed the execution of Guy Fawkes, the famous political prisoner who wanted to blow up the Parliament in 1606. This historical moment is still celebrated today throughout England and known as Bon Fire Day to celebrate that King James I survived the attempt on his life.

Samuel Pepys and the All Hallows

All Hallows By The Tower witnessed the Great Plague and survived The Great Fire of London, although damaged severely.

All Hallows has strong connection with that Samuel Pepys who is famous for his diaries that give us first-hand and very detailed information about life in the 1660s.

Samuel Pepys lived through The Great Fire of London and 6 September 1666 he climbed the stairs of the church to have a better view of the fire from the church tower and wrote his experiences in his diary.

“I up to the top of Barking (the former name of the church) steeple, and there saw the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw; everywhere great fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things burning. I became afeard to stay there long, and therefore down again as fast as I could, the fire being spread as far as I could see it…” – wrote Pepys about the Great Fire in 6 September 1666.

(source: https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/1666/09/ )

Samuel Pepys’ diaries cover the years 1659 – 1669. In 1669 writing in low light caused him to go blind and forced him to stop writing. His final diary entry was 31 May 1669.

After 350 years, in 2019 a 2 pound coin was issued commemorate Samuel Pepys famous diaries.

Photo source: royalmint.com

The Time Traveler

Stepping among these ancient walls is like time travel. I just couldn’t help touching the stones being touched many of the inhabitants from those ancient, forgotten, mysterious times…many of whom ancestors of London’s current inhabitants.

All Hallows By The Tower Century Guide

Source: https://www.ahbtt.org.uk/

The Saxon arch thought to be the oldest piece of church fabric in the City.

The altar is the tomb of Alderman John Croke (1477)

Historical People

Due to the close proximity, many of those had executed in The Tower of London buried near All Hallows By The Tower including Sir Thomas More (1535), Archbishop William Laud (1645) and John Fisher (1535).

All Hallows has had many famous connections. William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, was baptised at the church in 1644. Marriages have included Judge Jeffreys ‘The Hanging Judge’ and Sarah Needham in 1667, and John Quincy Adams, Sixth President of United States and Louisa Johnson in 1797.

If All Hallows By The Tower could speak, it might talk us about the execution of Queen Mary and the mysterious disappearance of the child King Edward V and his younger brother Richard of Shrewsbury, all happened next door, among the walls of the royal prison, The Tower of London.

Damages

The first recorded damage occurred in 1650 when seven barrels of explosive caught on fire and damaged the structure of the church. Even the windows blown out.

Today the stained-glass windows commemorate the officers and men who fell in the service of their country in 1939-45 war.

In 1666 The Great Fire of London left All Hallows severely damaged.

In 1940 during the WWII a bomb landed on the church destroying most of the main body of the building and vanishing many invaluable historical heritages. The Cromwellian Tower, however, miraculously survived the attack. This how the ancient Saxon arch, that is believed the oldest survived in the City, survived.

This altar is the tomb of Alderman John Croke (1477). The altar was destroyed by the air-raid of 1940 but it has been completely restored from over 150 fragments.

Crypt Museum

All Hallows has a free-to-enter crypt museum full of the most interesting historical fragments: among many others, a perfectly preserved section of original pavement from the time of the Roman occupation, some glazed floor tiles remained from the Medieval floor, some Norman stone fragment and chapels even used today.

A bronze panel commemorating William Penn and his baptism in All Hallows

Documents of marriages and burials from the 17^th century including a couple of well-known individuals.

A wooden barrel used by Sir Ernest Shackleton on his last Antarctic expedition.

Chapels Under the Church

Under the church, there are three small chapels still used today: the Undercroft Chapel, the Chapel of St Francis of Assisi and the Chapel of St Clare.

This site was formerly not part of the church. Instead, it was part of the burial ground next to the church. At least three Saxon coffins lie here. They were buried in the pre-Norman period. The rough rear wall is part of the 14th century church.

Services Today

All Hallows By The Tower is actively taking part of London’s everyday life. It offers baptisms, weddings, funerals, daily payers and lunchtime communion – prayers for healing, among others.

Byward Tower Kitchen & Bar

Byward Kitchen & Bar is situated right next to All Hallows and serves traditional British food and cozy relaxing atmosphere with a beautiful hidden garden.

Vegetarian English breakfast with grilled halloumi cheese, mushroom, avocado, baked beans, roasted tomato and toast.

Ready for your next adventure? Ready for a coffee in The Crypt?