All Hallows-on-the-Wall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Hallows-on-the-Wall |
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| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | George Dance the Younger |
| Years built | 1767 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
All Hallows-on-the-Wall is a special Church of England church in the City of London. Its name tells you where it is: right next to the old London Wall. This was once the big wall that protected the city.
Contents
The Church's Long History
Building the Church
The church you see today was built in 1767. A talented architect named George Dance the Younger designed it. It replaced a much older church from the early 1100s. That first church was built on a strong part of the old Roman wall, called a bastion.
This old church was famous for its hermits. Hermits were people who lived alone in small rooms, often for religious reasons. They lived in cells right inside the church.
Surviving the Great Fire
In 1666, a huge fire called the Great Fire of London swept through the city. Many buildings were destroyed. But All Hallows-on-the-Wall was lucky! It was protected by the big city wall. So, it survived the fire.
However, after the fire, the church became very run down. It needed a lot of repairs.
A New Design by a Young Architect
George Dance the Younger was only 24 years old when he rebuilt the church. He had just come back from Italy. There, he had studied amazing old Classical buildings.
His design for All Hallows was inspired by these ancient buildings. It was very simple and elegant. The inside has one main room, called a barrel-vaulted nave. At the far end, there's a half-dome shape called an apse. The decorations inside were inspired by an ancient temple in Rome.
Helping the Community
The church became well-known for helping people who were poor. Many workers, including women who worked in homes, would travel into the City early. They did this to avoid paying higher train fares.
The vicar (a church leader) at the time, Reverend Sir Montague Fowler, saw this need. He started special services and even set up tents in the churchyard for refreshments. This was very popular! It led to new buildings being built behind the church. These were used as an educational center. Because of this, All Hallows had one of the biggest church groups in the City. This was at a time when many other city churches were becoming less busy.
Later Years and Restoration
All Hallows was damaged during the Second World War. But it was carefully repaired in the early 1960s. Today, it is a guild church. This means it has a special connection to the Worshipful Company of Carpenters. This group has held its yearly elections in the church for over 600 years!
For many years, until 1994, the church was the main office for the Council for the Care of Churches. After that, it was empty for a while. Then, in 1997, a charity called Christian Aid started using the building. All Hallows became a busy place for Christian Aid and its supporters. It focused on important issues like fairness, development, and peace. Other groups also used the church, working on similar goals.
The church is a very important historical building. It was officially named a Grade I listed building on January 4, 1950. This means it's protected because of its special history and design.
What the Church Does Today
XLP and City Gates Church
Since 2014, All Hallows has been the main office for XLP. This is a charity that helps young people in city areas. XLP works to create good futures for young people. They help fight against bullying, gangs, and problems with weapons. They also help young people who might be bored or live in areas with a lot of crime. The church often hosts events for XLP. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have even visited the church for XLP events.
City Gates Church, London, also meets at All Hallows. This church group started meeting there every week at 11 am. They are the first group to hold regular services there since 1941. City Gates Church continues the tradition of All Hallows by helping people in need.
Community Projects
City Gates Church runs several projects to help the community. They have a "Better Job Project" to help people find work. They also offer English Conversation Classes. They host live music nights and other events.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many activities had to stop. But the church started its meetings again in September 2021. They began serving the community with their projects again in December 2022.
People Connected to the Church
- Robert Woodford was a lawyer. He is famous for writing a detailed diary from 1637 to 1641. He married Hannah Haunch at All Hallows in 1635.
- Samuel John Stone was the Rector (a church leader) of All Hallows until 1900.
See also
