This is a visit to St Bartholomew, the oldest church in London

There are numerous churches that you will be able to visit in your trip to london, beyond its most important and famous temples, such as the westmister abbey and St. Paul's Catholic Cathedral.

One of the oldest churches in London is church of St Bartholomew the Great (San Bartolome), which you can visit during your walk through the area of ​​the London city.

In particular, the St Bartholomew's Church You find it in a plaza that opens on the south side of the large building of Smithfield Market, north of the aforementioned San Pablo's cathedral.

History of St Bartholomew's Church in London

La St Bartholomew's Church It was built by the Augustinians in year 1123  to become a priory, which also incorporated the St Bartholomew's Hospital.

But in 1539 the priory was dissolved, and although the hospital remained, the central nave of the church was demolished.

Although the church was saved from Great Fire of London from 1666, it was abandoned and it was at the beginning of the XNUMXth century when the temple was restored, so that now you can see a building reminiscent of norman architecture, which houses a Anglican church.

When you arrive at the square Smithfield Market (metro stop Barbican) to visit St Bartholomew, do not expect to see a church, as it is hidden at first sight in a garden area that is accessed through a narrow stone portico in the style Tudor of a small half-timbered house.

Precisely this porch was part of the original St Bartholomew's Church, and the garden that you now find is located in what was an area of ​​the old central nave.

The transept, choir and apse were kept from the original building, and although its current configuration has nothing to do with the original, during your visit you will be able to feel in many of its corners the atmosphere typical of medieval times.

In addition to the large stone colonnades, you will see various corners, such as the tombs, the choir, the wooden pulpit and the chapel, all of great austerity.

Likewise, a part of the cloister, which you will now see is occupied by a pleasant cafeteria where it is worth having a tea, and thus enjoy a decoration that maintains the style of the original architecture.

St Bartholomew, movie setting

Out of curiosity, I tell you that the St Bartholomew's Church London has been the protagonist scene of several films.

Specifically, in the St Bartholomew's Church The movie was already filmed in 1991 Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, and then, in 1998, to be a scene of Shakespeare in love.

More recently, in 2007 it was filmed Elizabeth, the Golden Age, and a year later, The Boleyn sisters.

But the church of St Bartholomew the Great It has not only been the setting for historical films.

It has also hosted a comedy like Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) or other topics, such as Jude (1996) and, the most recently filmed, Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Concerts and choirs in St Bartholomew

Nowadays, in this church with Norman architecture, liturgical services are celebrated with musical accompaniment.

In addition, this church has a professional choir, which has an extensive program of performances, under the name of Choral Evensong, which generally take place at 18,30:XNUMX p.m.

On its own official website St Bartholomew's Church You have a page where the updated schedule of musical performances and choir,

Also, in The Cloister Cafe, the pleasant cafeteria that I mentioned before, there are numerous days that take place at noon musical performances of jazz and folk groups.

These performances are held at 18 p.m., they are free to enter and you can have drinks during them.

Visiting hours of St Bartholomew's Church

The St Bartholomew the Great Church Visiting Hours They are from Monday to Friday, from 8,30:17 a.m. to 16 p.m. (until 10,30 p.m. from November to February); on Saturdays, from 16:8,30 a.m. to 20 p.m.; and on Sundays, from XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. to XNUMX p.m.

For visit St Bartholomew's Church it has to be paid.

El price of admission It is £5 (£1,50 extra for photo permit).

Photos of St Bartholomew's Church

Here you have more photos of this curious and interesting church of St Batholomew The Great, which you can visit in London.