All Saints Church, Fulham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Affirming Catholic |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Administration | |
| Parish | All Saints' Fulham |
| Deanery | Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Archdeaconry | Middlesex |
| Diocese | London |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church is a very old church located in Fulham, London. It was built long before the Reformation, a big change in the Christian church. This church started as the main church for the Bishops of London. They owned the land nearby, called Fulham Manor, since the 700s. Many bishops are buried here.
Today, All Saints' is an Anglican church. It stands close to the River Thames, right next to Putney Bridge. The church's tower and its main inside areas are special. They are listed as Grade II* listed buildings, meaning they are very important historically.
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The Church's Long History
There has been a church on this exact spot for over 900 years. The first time a church here was written about was in 1154. This was during a disagreement about church taxes.
The church building you see today is mostly from the late 1800s. It was rebuilt in 1880–1881 by a famous architect, Sir Arthur Blomfield. He used strong stone and windows in a style called Perpendicular style.
The church still has many old memorials from the earlier building. There is also a special plaque. It remembers soldiers from the 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion who died in the First World War. Their training hall was at Fulham House from 1908.
The church and its churchyard are next to Bishop's Park. This park overlooks the River Thames. The church has always been connected to the Bishops of London. They were the "lords of the manor" of Fulham for a long time. Many of them are buried here. The nearby Fulham Palace was once their home.
Putney Bridge is quite special. It is the only bridge in Britain with a church at both ends. On the south side in Putney is St Mary's Church. On the north side, in Fulham, is All Saints' Church.
Important People Buried Here
All Saints' Church is very close to Fulham Palace. This was the old home of the Bishop of London. Because of this, many Bishops of London were buried at All Saints'.
Bishops of London Buried at All Saints'
- Humphrey Henchman (died 1675)
- Henry Compton (died 1713)
- John Robinson (died 1723)
- Edmund Gibson (died 1748)
- Thomas Sherlock (died 1761)
- Thomas Hayter (died 1762)
- Richard Terrick (died 1777)
- Robert Lowth (died 1787)
- John Randolph (died 1813)
- Charles James Blomfield (died 1857)
- John Jackson (died 1885)
Other Notable Burials
Many other interesting people are also buried at All Saints' Church.
- William John Burchell (1781–1863) – An explorer and naturalist. He was also a traveler, artist, and writer.
- Sir William Butts – He was a doctor to King Henry VIII.
- Henry Holland – A famous architect.
- Nathaniel Kent – An expert in farming.
- Alexander Marshal (around 1620–1682) – A merchant, gardener, and artist who drew plants.
- John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt – A royalist who was important during the English Civil War.
- John Saris – A ship captain. He led the first English trip to land in Japan.
- Granville Sharp – A person who worked to end slavery. His tomb is also a Grade II listed building.
- William Sharp – A surgeon.
- Sir William Withers – He was the Lord Mayor of London.
- George London – A landscape gardener. He was the gardener for Bishop Compton.
In the Media
In 2017, the Christmas Day church service from All Saints' Church was shown on BBC Television.
