All Hallows by the Tower, London
Location map and aerial view of All Hallows by the Tower. For a larger interactive view, see our London Map.
All Hallows by the Tower is an ancient Anglican church located in the City of London, just uphill from the famous Tower of London.
History
All Hallows was first established in 675 by the now-defunct Saxon Barking Abbey and was for many years named after the abbey, as "All Hallows Barking." The church was built on the site of a former Roman building, traces of which have been discovered in the crypt.
The church was expanded and rebuilt several times between the 11th century and 15th century. All Hallows' proximity to the Tower meant that it acquired royal connections, with Edward IV making it a royal chantry and the beheaded victims of Tower executions being sent for temporary burial at All Hallows.
The church was badly damaged by a nearby explosion in 1649, which demolished its west tower, and only narrowly survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. It owed its survival to Admiral William Penn, father of William Penn of Pennsylvania fame, who saved it by having the surrounding buildings demolished to create firebreaks.
In 1926 a Roman pavement and many artifacts were discovered many feet below the church. Restored in the late 19th century, All Hallows was gutted by the Blitz in World War II and required extensive reconstruction, only being rededicated in 1957.
All Hallows by the Tower has connections with several famous persons, including:
- John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States - married here in 1797
- Judge Jeffreys, notorious "hanging judge" - married here in 1667
- William Laud, archbishop beheaded at the Tower - buried here 1645
- Thomas More, Catholic humanist, author and Lord Chancellor, refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church - beheaded at Tower of London and buried here in 1535
- John Fisher, beheaded at the Tower - buried here in 1535
- Lancelot Andrewes, Bishop of Chichester, oversaw King James Bible - baptized here in 1555
- William Penn, founder of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania - baptized here in 1644
- Albert Schweitzer, made organ recordings at All Hallows
- Samuel Pepys - diarist who climbed All Hallows' tower to watch the Great Fire of London in 1666
What to See
Many portions of the old church survived the war and have been sympathetically restored. Overall, the interior looks like an upside-down boat; this reflects its longstanding nautical connections. Its outer walls are 15th century, with a 7th century Saxon doorway surviving from the original church. Many brasses remain in the interior and the church houses a brass rubbing center open to visitors.
Other notable features include three outstanding wooden statues of saints dating from the 15th and 16th centuries (the one of St James Compostella dates from 1484) and an exquisite font cover believed to have been carved in 1682 by Grinling Gibbons, which is regarded by many as one of the finest pieces of carving in London.
In the northeast corner is the altar tomb of Alderman John Croke (1477), which was destroyed by the air-raid of 1940 but completely restored from over 150 fragments.
Downstairs is the Undercroft Museum, with a treasury of communion plates, and a crypt. The latter contains an altar believed to have been carried on the Second Crusade by King Richard II.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | All Hallows by the Tower; All Hallows-by-the-Tower |
| Dedicated to: | All Souls |
| Location: | London, England |
| Category: | Churches |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Original/Primary: Catholic Current/Secondary: Anglican |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | Founded 675; renovations 11C-15C |
| Architecture: | Romanesque, Gothic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 51.509357° N, 0.079393° W (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | Byward Street, London EC3R 5BJ |
| Phone: | 0207 481 2928 |
| Website: | www.allhallowsbythetower.org.uk |
| E-mail: | parish@ahbtt.org.uk |
| Hours: | Mon-Fri 8am-6pm Sat-Sun 10am-5pm (except during services) |
| Cost: | Free |
| Photography: | Permitted |
| Services: | See official website for schedule |
| Public transport: | Tube: Tower Hill |
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Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Personal visit (June 24, 2007)
- All Hallows by the Tower - official website
- All Hallows-by-the-Tower - Britain Express
- All Hallows-by-the-Tower - Wikipedia (some text used under GFDL)
More Information
- All Hallows by the Tower - review of service by the Mystery Worshipper
Article last updated: 10/21/2009.
