The oldest remaining church in London, founded in 1123 as an Augustinian monastery, is next to St Bartholomew’s hospital (colloquially known as St Bart’s), which is of the same foundation.
Sir Richard Rich acquired the church after the Dissolution of the Monasteries and destroyed most of it – although he made the Lady Chapel his home. The oriel window was installed by Prior William Bolton in the early 16th century. The Elizabethan gatehouse leading to the Church was built in 1595. Tudor tombs include those of Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I, and his wife, Mary, Lady Mildmay.
St Bartholomew’s escaped the Great Fire of London but fell into disrepair subsequently and much of it was rebuilt in the late 19th century. It was one of the few churches in central London to escape bomb damage in the Second World War.
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