My final Pocket Park was another disappointment in some way - as there was little apart from trees, grass and lots of autumn leaves. But it is an oasis with seating for those who want to get away from an office desk. Hard by the Old Bailey, I had passed by many times but never stopped to stare until Tuesday.
Some things interested me. First, the water fountain on the outside of the railings donated by Sam Gurney MP in the early 19th Century and moved here when the viaduct was built.
In medieval times the church stood just outside ("without") the now-demolished old city wall, near the Newgate. The original Saxon church on the site was dedicated to St Edmund the King and Martyr. In 1137 it was given to the Priory of St Bartholomew. During the Crusades in the 12th century the church was renamed St Edmund and the Holy Sepulchre, in reference to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, by soldiers who passed by the church on the way to the Holy Lands. The name eventually became contracted to St Sepulchre.
The church is today the largest parish church in the City. It was completely rebuilt in the 15th century but was gutted by the Great Fire of London in 1666, which left only the outer walls, the tower and the porch standing. Modified in the 18th century, the church underwent extensive restoration in 1878. It narrowly avoided destruction in the Second World War, although the 18th-century watch-house in its churchyard (erected to deter grave-robbers) was completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt.
St Sepulchre is named in the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons as the "bells of Old Bailey".
The church has been the official musicians' church for many years and is associated with many famous musicians.
But all this is to change if the Vicar had his way! I read that the Acting Bishop of London has failed to persuade the Vicar to change his decision that from the end of the year there will be a ban on 'non-religious hirings' - and this could spell the end of the church being known as the Musician's church!
Sad - I guess - but that's life!
