History All Hallows-by-the-Tower

reconstruction during 1955, after extensive damage in blitz.

all hallows-by-the-tower first established in 675 anglo-saxon abbey @ barking , many years named after abbey, hallows barking. church built on site of former roman building, traces of have been discovered in crypt. expanded , rebuilt several times between 11th , 15th centuries. proximity tower of london meant acquired royal connections, edward iv making 1 of chapels royal chantry , beheaded victims of tower executions being sent temporary burial @ hallows.

the interior

the church badly damaged explosion in 1650 caused when barrels of gunpowder being stored in churchyard exploded; west tower , 50 nearby houses destroyed, , there many fatalities. tower rebuilt in 1658, example of work carried out on church during commonwealth era of 1649–1660. narrowly survived great fire of london in 1666 , owes survival admiral william penn, father of william penn of pennsylvania fame, had men nearby naval yard demolish surrounding buildings create firebreaks. during great fire, samuel pepys climbed church s spire watch progress of blaze , described saddest sight of desolation .

restored in late 19th century, hallows gutted german bombers during blitz in world war ii , required extensive reconstruction, being rededicated in 1957.

many portions of old church survived war , have been sympathetically restored. outer walls 15th-century, 7th-century saxon arch doorway surviving original church, oldest piece of church material in london. many brasses remain in interior. (the brass rubbing centre used located @ hallows closed). 3 outstanding wooden statues of saints dating 15th , 16th centuries can found in church, can exquisite baptismal font cover carved in 1682 grinling gibbons ₤12, , regarded 1 of finest pieces of carving in london. in 1999 aoc archaeology group excavated cemetery , made many significant discoveries.

the church has museum called undercroft museum, containing portions of roman pavement many artefacts discovered many feet below church in 1926. exhibits focus on history of church , city of london, , include saxon , religious artefacts. on display church s registers dating 16th century, , notable entries include baptism of william penn, marriage of john quincy adams (which marriage of u.s. president occurred on foreign soil), , burial of archbishop william laud. laud remained buried in vault in chapel on 20 years; moved during restoration st john s college, oxford.

the altar in crypt of plain stone castle of richard @ athlit in holy land.

all hallows-by-the-tower has been guild church of toc h since 1922. church designated grade listed building on 4 january 1950.

the church has carillon brought working order in 1970s philip blewett, priest @ church, , desmond buckley on many weekends.