Sunday 31 October 2010

Haunted London, St Bartholomew The Great Church, Smithfield London.



St. Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7DQ
The second oldest church in London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, who is said to have once been the pious jester to King Henry I. While on a pilgrimage to Rome, he received a vision of St. Bartholomew who instructed him to build both a church and hospital at Smithfield. This he did as soon as he returned to England and thus was started both St. Bartholomew's Church but also St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
Rahere became a monk and is buried inside the church in an ornate tomb of which he would most certainly have disapproved. Maybe this is the reason that his cowled figure has been both seen and heard many times within the church. He usually stands near the altar but at other times he has been spotted walking towards the Lady Chapel.



Haunted London, St Bartholomew The Great Church, Smithfield London.










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