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All Saints Church, Fulham

Coordinates: 51°28′07″N 0°12′42″W / 51.4686°N 0.2117°W / 51.4686; -0.2117
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All Saints' Church
Map
AddressFulham High St.
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipAffirming Catholic
WebsiteOfficial website
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade II*
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseLondon
ArchdeaconryMiddlesex
DeaneryHammersmith and Fulham
ParishAll Saints' Fulham
Clergy
Vicar(s)Revd Peter Dobson, Vicar of Fulham
Priest(s)George Meyrick associate vicar
Curate(s)Vacant
Laity
Director of musicJonathan Wikeley
Churchwarden(s)Douglas Downie
Paul Hall
Entrance
View from Putney Bridge
The Sharp Family by Johann Zoffany, c.1791. All Saints is depicted in the background.

All Saints' Church is the ancient parish church of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, pre-dating the Reformation. The parish was founded in the precinct of Fulham Manor, currently adjacent to it, which was in the possession of the Bishops of London, since the 8th century. Hence it began as the parish church of the bishops of London and several of them are buried there. It is now an Anglican church in Fulham, London, sited close to the River Thames, beside the northern approach to Putney Bridge. The church tower and interior nave and chancel are Grade II* listed.[1]

History

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There has been a church on the same site for more than 900 years. Barbara Denny, a historian of London, writes that the first record of a church here dates from 1154 in the rolls of a tithe dispute.[2] Apart from the tower, construction of which began in 1440, the present church building dates from the late Victorian period, having been rebuilt in 1880–1881 by Sir Arthur Blomfield using squared rubblestone, ashlar dressings and windows in the Perpendicular style.[1] The church retains many memorials from the earlier church along with a plaque to the First World War dead of the 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion of the London Regiment, whose drill hall was at Fulham House from 1908 onwards.[3]

The building and its churchyard are situated next to Bishop's Park, overlooking the River Thames. The church has a long association with the bishops of London as lords of the manor of Fulham, and is the burial place for many of them. The nearby Fulham Palace is the former manor of Fulham and the former residence of the bishops of London.

Putney Bridge, like its predecessor Fulham Bridge, is unique in that it is the only bridge in Britain to have a church at both ends: the ancient St Mary's Church is located in Putney on the south bank, and All Saints' Church, Fulham, is on the north bank.

Notable burials

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Bishops of London

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Due to the proximity of All Saints to Fulham Palace, the ancient residence of the Bishop of London, several bishops of London were buried at All Saints.

Other burials

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In the media

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The church was featured in the film The Omen, in a scene which begins in Bishop's Park, and ends with a bizarre accident where a priest (played by Patrick Troughton) is impaled by a lightning conductor on the top of the tower that is dislodged when it is hit by lightning.

In 2017, the Christmas Day service from the church was shown on BBC Television.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1286566)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  2. ^ Denny, Barbara (1997). Fulham Past. London: Historical Publications. pp. 35–39. ISBN 0-948667-43-5.
  3. ^ Speel, Bob. "Monuments in All Saints Parish Church, Fulham". The Second Website of Bob Speel.
  4. ^ Mr. Marshal's flower book. Royal Collection Publications. 2008. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-905686-03-2. The inscription on his tombstone includes the following: He left no issue, but, by reason of his integrity and gifts he will live longer than the life which was vouchsafed him.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1391900)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ^ Christmas 2017 from BBC Television, retrieved 23 December 2017
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51°28′07″N 0°12′42″W / 51.4686°N 0.2117°W / 51.4686; -0.2117