St Bartholomew the Great is located in West Smithfield and is an Anglican church.

It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, a courtier of Henry I. He fell ill with a fever when on a pilgrimage to Rome and made a vow to set up a hospital for the poor should he recover. Upon returning to London he had a vision of St Bartholomew that led him to set up a church, priory, and hospital dedicated to the saint.

Rahere lived more than 20 years longer, and served as a prior and the hospital master, his tomb now lies within the church. Rahere’s recovery has given this church a long reputation for curative powers; people who are ill often come to the church on August 24th which is St Bartholomew’s Day.

The church is known for its historically significant Norman interior architecture and huge Romanesque columns, although much of the original structure was pulled down during the Dissolution when Henry VII disbanded many of the monasteries. What was left, mainly the choir and crossing, remained in use as a parish church.

The Lady Chapel was used for residential housing, and then was home to the print shop where Benjamin Franklin worked in 1725.

The North Transept had been converted to a blacksmith forge.

The structures did escape the Great Fire of London, but over the years it was neglected and fell into disrepair. Beginning in the 1880s, the church was finally restored and rebuilt by Sir Aston Webb.

It was one of the few churches to survive the Second World War undamaged.

Today it stands as an interesting collection of architectural styles, having been much used and restored over its many years of service to the community.

Aside from being an active place of worship, the church also has an Artist Residency Program, whereby an artist is given access to the church and exhibition space. The artist in residence is on hand to help those coming to the church to sketch, art classes are available, and an exhibition of the artist’s depictions of the church are open to the public as well.

Visiting St Bartholomew the Great

West Smithfield, Clerkenwell, EC1A 7JQ

Telephone: 020 7606 5171

Email admin@greatstbarts.com

Photo courtesy: goforchris

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