All Saints Church, Fulham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids All Saints' Church |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Affirming Catholic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | All Saints' Fulham |
| Deanery | Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Archdeaconry | Middlesex |
| Diocese | London |
| Province | Canterbury |
All Saints' Church is a very old church in Fulham, London. It stands close to the River Thames, right by the northern side of Putney Bridge. This church has been here for a very long time, even before the Reformation (a big change in the Christian church). Today, it is an Anglican church. Its tower, main hall (nave), and altar area (chancel) are special, listed as Grade II* listed buildings.
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A Look Back: History of All Saints' Church
There has been a church on this exact spot for over 900 years! Imagine how many people have visited it. Historians say the first mention of a church here was in 1154. This was during a disagreement about "tithes," which were payments to the church.
Building the Church Through the Ages
The church tower is very old, started in 1440. But most of the church you see today was rebuilt much later. This happened in 1880–1881. Sir Arthur Blomfield designed the new parts. He used strong, cut stones called "squared rubblestone" and smooth, dressed stones called "ashlar." The windows were made in a style called "Perpendicular style," which was popular in old English churches.
Even though it was rebuilt, the church still has many old memorials. These are like plaques or statues remembering people from the earlier church. There is also a special plaque for soldiers from the 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion who died in the First World War. Their training hall used to be nearby at Fulham House.
Location and Special Connections
All Saints' Church and its churchyard are right next to Bishop's Park. From here, you can see the River Thames. The church has a long history with the Bishops of London. These bishops used to be the "lords of the manor" (like the main landowners) of Fulham. Many of them are buried here. The nearby Fulham Palace was once the home of these bishops.
Did you know that Putney Bridge is quite special? It's the only bridge in Britain with a church at both ends! On the south side in Putney is St Mary's Church. And on the north side, in Fulham, is All Saints' Church.
Important People Buried Here
Because All Saints' Church is so close to Fulham Palace, many important people are buried here. This includes several Bishops of London and other notable figures.
Bishops of London Buried at All Saints
Many Bishops of London chose All Saints' as their final resting place. Some of them include:
- Humphrey Henchman (died 1675)
- Henry Compton (died 1713)
- John Robinson (died 1723)
- Edmund Gibson (died 1748)
- Thomas Sherlock (died 1761)
- Charles James Blomfield (died 1857)
Other Notable Burials
Besides the bishops, many other interesting people are buried at All Saints' Church.
- William John Burchell (1781–1863) – a famous explorer, naturalist, and artist.
- Sir William Butts – he was a doctor to King Henry VIII.
- Henry Holland – a well-known architect.
- Alexander Marshal (around 1620–1682) – a merchant and talented botanical illustrator.
- John Saris – a sea captain who led the first English voyage to land in Japan.
- Granville Sharp – a very important person who worked to end slavery.
- George London – a landscape gardener who worked for Bishop Compton.
All Saints' Church in Movies and TV
This historic church has even appeared on screen!
Featured in "The Omen"
The church was shown in the scary film The Omen. In one scene, a priest is involved in a strange accident. A lightning rod from the top of the tower is hit by lightning and falls.
On BBC Television
In 2017, the Christmas Day church service from All Saints' Church was shown on BBC Television. This meant people all over the country could watch the service from this historic Fulham church.
