Holy Sepulchre Church — Attraction in London

Grade 1 listed. Was originally a Saxon Church dedicated to St Edmund The King and Martyr. In 1137 it was given to the Priory of St Bart's. During the 12th century during The Crusades it was renamed St Edmund and the Holy Sepulchre's in Jerusalem. Over time it was shortened. Although now considered to be in the City, it stood just outside of the now demolished medieval city walls near Newgate. Because of this it is also known as St Sepulchre's Without Newgate. It is now part of the Newgate Street Conservation Area. During the 15th century it was rebuilt and reopened in 1670. It has a Gothic tower which houses 12 bells. Known in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons as The Bells of Old Bailey. They were originally rung the night before condemned prisoners were due to be executed at Newgate Prison and again in the morning when they were led to the gallows either at Newgate or Tyburn in Westminster. During the 1800's a secret tunnel from the courts and the prison was made into the church to lead notorious criminals to their death away from the eyes of the rowdy crowds of onlookers. The interior is from 1834. Has a chequered black and white floor. With mahoosive white columns which hold up the coffered ceiling. The North Isle is dominated by a mahoosive black and gold piped organ from 1670. Has a Musicians Chapel with 4 windows dedicated to Sir Henry Wood, John Ireland, Dame Nellie Melba and Walter Carroll. Set within the ornate perimeter railings and sat atop of the perimeter wall, is London's 1st drinking fountain erected 1859. Complete with 2 wee chained cups within it's basin and a shell above from which the water used to emerge. Unfortunately, it's no longer in working order. It was placed there to discourage Londoners from imbibing in alcohol. In close proximity to Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), Bart's Pathology Museum, Temple Church, Museum of London, Barbican, St Paul's Cathedral, The Golden Boy of Pye Corner, The River Thames, The Millennium Bridge etc. Nearest stations are Temple, Blackfriars, Mansion House, St Paul's, Barbican, and...

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known as St Sepulchre-without-Newgate sits across the street from where Newgate Prison was once located and where the Old Bailey is now. Public executions were moved from Tyburn gallows in 1783 to the street between the prison and church, where they continued until moved again inside the prison in 1868. It was just outside (‘without’) the medieval walls of the City of London. The walls, tower and porch date from 1450. It was gutted in the Great Fire of 1666 and rebuilt. It has been substantially changed since then; the ceiling and plasterwork dates from 1834 and there were considerable alterations and much exterior...

St Sepulchre’s has a significant role in the history of London's infamous Newgate prison. (Originally sited where the Central Criminal Court of England sits on the corner of 'Old Bailey' across the street).

The church clock was used to mark the time until prisoner executions. The priest of St. Sepulchre’s would walk to Newgate prison, to visit the prisoners to be executed, offer last rights and the opportunity to repent their sins and pray with them. When the cart taking the prisoner to his execution passed by St. Sepulchre’s church, the priest would once again appear, toll the bells, and pray for the passing...