Summary

The Holy Sepulchre in London has been a place of worship since at least 1137. when a charter records that Rahere (the founder of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital) appointed ‘Hagno the Clerk’ as priest of Holy Sepulchre.

The current building was built in the 15^th century but was gutted in the Great Fire. Sir Christopher Wren was supposed to rebuild the church, but the Church Wardens at the time got bored of waiting and organised it themselves!

The Holy Sepulchre is the National Musicians Church. Sir Henry Wood, founder of the ‘Proms’ learnt to play the organ here. The organ itself dates back to 1676.

The Holy Sepulchre is also the home to the chapel for the Royal Fusiliers and houses the Book of Remembrance which has the names of the fallen from the Great War onwards.

Famous people to be buried here are listed as Sir Henry Wood, Captain John Smith, founder of Virginia and Thomas Culpeper a favourite courtier to Henry VIII until he was executed after having an affair with the King’s fifth wife Catherine Howard.

There is a great audio tour on the church’s website should you wish to explore the site.

https://hsl.church/our-history