Why do the bells of Shoreditch chime with such significance? St Leonard’s, Shoreditch is not just another London church. It is a landmark steeped in history and culture. Today, we will uncover the fascinating story of St Leonard’s.
St Leonard’s stands at the intersection of Shoreditch High Street and Hackney Road. The current building dates back to 1740. George Dance the Elder, a pupil of Christopher Wren, designed it.
Did you know St Leonard’s is immortalized in the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons?” The rhyme mentions, “When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch.” These are the bells you hear.
St Leonard’s has a rich theatrical history. Two original London theatres once stood nearby. They were The Theatre and The Curtain Theatre. Shakespeare’s plays were first performed there. Many actors are buried in the crypt beneath St Leonard’s. James Burbage, founder of The Theatre, rests here. His son Richard, a leading Shakespearean actor, is also buried here. Comedian Richard Tarlton is here too. A memorial inside St Leonard’s commemorates these figures. The London Shakespeare League erected it in 1913. It reminds us of Shoreditch’s Shakespearean heritage.
The bells have a unique story. After victory at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 the Duke of Cumberland’s army returned to London. St Leonard’s bells greeted them. The Duke granted the ringers the name “the Royal Cumberland Youths.”
The church boasts an impressive organ built in 1756. Richard Bridge built it. It retains all its original wooden pipes. It is a rare example of a tracker organ without pedals.
St Leonard’s has appeared on television. It doubled as St Saviour’s in the Marshes in the BBC sitcom “Rev.” The church also featured in series two of “Luther.”
Many notable people are connected to St Leonard’s. James Parkinson, after whom Parkinson’s disease is named, is commemorated inside. He lived nearby in Hoxton Square. The Rev Samuel Annesley, grandfather of John and Charles Wesley, is buried in the churchyard.
Thomas Fairchild, a pioneer gardener, is also remembered here. He endowed an annual Whitsun sermon. It was known as “The Vegetable Sermon.”
The tower of the medieval church partially collapsed in 1716. George Dance the Elder rebuilt it in Palladian style between 1736 and 1740. The soaring steeple is an imitation of Christopher Wren’s St Mary-le-Bow. Inside, giant Doric columns support the entablature. Many original 18th-century features remain.
The bells in the London Borough of Hackney’s coat of arms represent St Leonard’s bells.
So, as we stand before St Leonard’s remember its layers of history. From Shakespearean actors to famous nursery rhymes. From television appearances to pioneering parishioners. This church is a testament to Shoreditch’s vibrant past.