Even if you have never been to London, I bet you have seen the interior of the historic church, St. Bartholomew the Great. I will get to that after a little more church chit chat. St. Bart's was established in 1123 by a monk named Rahere, a former courtier who found God and became a monk. After becoming ill while in Rome and having a dream during his travels back to London, he appealed to Henry I (son of Wm the Conqueror) to built a church and hospital on the western outskirts of London. During the dissolution of the priory during Henry VIII's reign, the nave was destroyed and some other changes made, but much of what remains is original to the 12th century.
You enter the churchyard through the Gatehouse, above which are the remains of an old house done in the "black and white" style associated with the 16th century. Passing under the gatehouse there is a lovely garden on your right and the hustle and bustle of London seems miles away.
Imagine Shakespeare himself praying here. Well, we don't know that, but Joseph Finnes who played Shakespeare did. (Shakespeare In Love with the lovely Gwyneth Paltrow) Many movie scenes have been filmed here. A fan of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr.? All those wonderful sacrificial scenes were shot here. Are you a bit older and a Hugh Grant fan? Then you probably saw Four weddings and a Funeral and can take a pretty good guess as to the church where all that took place. In addition, there's Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Snow White and the Huntsman. (I never said all the movies shot here were good, did I?)
Below you will find pictures of the Gatehouse, main aisle and altar, along with one of the founder Rahere's tomb.
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