St Sepulchre Without Newgate - Holborn Viaduct, London, UK
N 51° 30.996 W 000° 06.157
30U E 701022 N 5711255
The church of St Sepulchre Without Newgate stands at the western end of Holborn Viaduct at the junction with Snow Hill. The term "without" indicates that the church was located outside the Roman, or London, Wall.
Waymark Code: WMEC8Y
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/06/2012
Views: 7
The church was built in 1450 and suffered
damage in The Great Fire of London in 1666. The interior was restored in 1670
and there has been other alterations since. The stonework of the church is dirty
with the pollution from the City and does not appear, at lower levels, to have
been cleaned for some considerable time.
The church is Grade I listed and its entry, at English Heritage (visit
link), reads:
"Mid C15 and late C17, with later
alterations and refacings. Approximately a rectangle with continuous aisles to
nave and chancel. St Stephen's Chapel projects to north and a 3 storeyed porch
to south. Variously repaired and refaced stone walls are original with late C17
classical arcades (of 7 bays) and east window. Plaster ceilings reconstructed in
1837. Numerous monuments. Organ case of 1677. Reredos. Carved woodwork etc. C17
sundial on south side. C18 wrought iron gate to porch. Vestries to north-east
partially of design dated 1791 (reconstructed in 1962) with Venetian windows
etc. Attached to east wall is memorial bust of Charles Lamb, removed from
Christchurch, Newgate Street."
The church's website (visit
link) tells us:
"Church History: Brief Overview
St Sepulchre’s has a fascinating history stretching back to the 12th Century.
The church’s early history encompasses two rebuilds, the second of which
followed the Great Fire of 1666. Importantly, the church is the final resting
place of Captain John Smith, first Governor of Virginia, USA, who was buried in
the church in 1633. The church’s somewhat macabre links with the Old Bailey
serve as a sombre reminder of the age of capital punishment.
In the twentieth-century, the church became firmly associated with the musical
life of the country through its connection with Sir Henry Wood, founder of “The
Proms”, and the dedication of the Musicians’ Chapel. St Sepulchre’s is now best
known as the National Musicians’ Church."
The website (visit
link) also tells us:
"Early History
The church, named after the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, is first mentioned in
1137. It was grandly re-built in 1450 only to be badly damaged in the Great Fire
of 1666. The burnt out shell was rebuilt by Wren’s masons in 1670-71. St
Sepulchre’s now stands as the largest church in the city of London.
Famous in folklore, the twelve “Bells of Old Bailey” are remembered in the rhyme
“Oranges and Lemons”. St Sepulchre’s great bell tolled as condemned men passed
from Newgate prison towards the gallows.
On midnight of an execution day, St Sepulchre’s Bellman would pass by an
underground passage to Newgate Prison and ring twelve double tolls to the
prisoner on the Execution Bell, whilst reciting a rhymed reminder that the day
of execution had come. The hand bell is now displayed under glass in the church,
alongside the rhyme that was read to prisoners.
Captain John Smith, first governor of the State of Virginia, USA, is buried in
the South aisle of the church. Smith sailed to America in “the little ships” in
1607 where he was captured by Indians and freed by Princess Pocahontas. He is
commemorated in a beautiful stained-glass window on the South wall."
The website (visit
link) also gives some 20th century information:
"20th-Century Church History
The south aisle of the church holds the regimental chapel of the Royal Fusiliers
(City of London Regiment), and its gardens are a memorial garden to that
regiment.
The School of English Church Music (now Royal School of Church Music) had its
first London base at St Sepulchre’s and was used regularly for BBC broadcasts in
the 1930s.
The young Henry Wood learnt to play the organ in The St Stephen Harding Chapel.
He was appointed Assistant Organist at the church, aged 14. Sir Henry Wood
became famous for instituting the Promenade Concerts; the longest running
continuous series of orchestral concerts in the world. When Sir Henry Wood died
in 1944, his ashes were laid to rest in the chapel which was subsequently
renamed The Musicians’ Chapel.
St Sepulchre’s has been dedicated as the National Musicians’ Church. Since that
time the church has become associated with many famous musicians. The church
continues to cultivate links to musicians and musical institutions today through
The Friends of the Musicians’ Chapel, Concerts and Recital series, and its own
thriving musical tradition."