St Bartholomew-the-Great, Priory church in Smithfield, City of London, England.
St Bartholomew-the-Great is a medieval place of worship built from brick in the Smithfield neighborhood, ranking among the oldest church buildings in London. Round stone pillars support the vaulted ceiling, while a tower from the twelfth century rises above the choir.
Rahere, a courtier of Henry I, founded a priory here in 1123 that later became a parish church. The building survived the dissolution of monasteries under Henry VIII and the great fire of 1666.
The building carries the name of the apostle Bartholomew, to whom it has been dedicated since medieval times. Anglican services take place here regularly, often accompanied by choral music that fills the tall interior space.
The entrance sits hidden behind an archway off West Smithfield Road, not directly on the main street. Some parts of the interior remain closed to visitors during services, so arriving on weekdays is often easier.
The Lady Chapel served as a printing house in the eighteenth century, where Benjamin Franklin worked as a journeyman before returning to America. The seal of the original medieval priory can still be seen in the tower above the choir.
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