St Bartholomew The Great Church, City of London

St Bartholomew The Great Church, City of London

Visited August 2021

In the heart of Smithfields, by the market and Barts Hospital is St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest surviving parish church in London, dating back to the time of Henry I in the 12th century. It was founded by Prince Rahere, whose (later) tomb is still in the church. Although damaged through the centuries, including in the dissolution of the priories in 1539, much of the original building has survived and subsequent restorations have, for the most part, been faithful to the original. It's easily recognisable from its many appearances on tv and film, from Shakespeare in Love to the League of Gentlemen.

There is a small remainder of the burial ground outside with a few intact headstones, but the main memorials survive inside, with a splendid array of carved memorial stones around the walls from the 16th century onwards. The lighting in some parts of the church is quite dark, but most memorials are well lit and legible. Unlike many City churches, St Barts is open every day for visitors as well as for prayer. The Romanesque architecture and atmospheric interior make it well worth a visit as well as the memorials, and there's also a selection of contemporary art, including an incredible Damien Hirst of the flayed St Bartholomew, which really have to be seen.

Tomb of the founder of Bartholomew the Great, Prince Rahere

Church in the Wood, Hollington, East Sussex

The Church in the Wood (St Leonard's Church), East Sussex

Visited July 2021

The Church in the Wood, or to give it it's formal name of St Leonard's Church, is in Hollington, near Bexhill on Sea in East Sussex.

There has been a church here since at least the 11th century, with that one being replaced in the 13th century. Parts of the current church are Medieval, although of course the Victorians got their hands on it and did lots of "restoration". Sadly the church was locked when we were there, but the churchyard alone was well worth a visit. As the name suggests, it's in the middle of a wood (there's a handy car park nearby), and the cemetery feels very wild and remote. Graves are mostly Victorian to modern, but in the trees and with butterflies and bees flying around between the flowers it felt old and remote, like a part of the past hiding in the middle of the present. If you look closely, there are some gravestones going back to the 17th and 18th centuries near the church, but they take some hunting out.

The churchyard backs on to more ancient woodland, and it is all a nature reserve in the borough of Hastings, so hopefully its secluded and peaceful nature will survive for generations to come. If you're in the area, do pay this place a visit. You won't regret it!