All Saints Church, Fulham

All Saints' Church is the ancient parish church of Fulham, in the County of Middlesex, pre-dating the Reformation. 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.

All Saints' Church
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipAffirming Catholic
WebsiteOfficial website
Administration
ParishAll Saints' Fulham
DeaneryHammersmith and Fulham
ArchdeaconryMiddlesex
DioceseLondon
ProvinceCanterbury
Clergy
Vicar(s)Penny Seabrook, Vicar of Fulham
(Vacant, Associate Vicar)
Honorary priest(s)Walter Makhulu
Curate(s)Will Levanway, Assistant Curate
Laity
Director of musicJonathan Wikeley
Organist(s)Matthew Burgess
Churchwarden(s)Martin McGann
Ade Lusmore
Entrance
View from Putney Bridge

History

There has been a church on the same site for more than 900 years. Denny writes that the first record of a church here dates from 1154 in the rolls of a tithe dispute.[1] Apart from the tower, construction of which began in 1440, the present church building dates from the late Victorian period, having been rebuilt in 1880–1 by Sir Arthur Blomfield, using squared rubblestone, ashlar dressings and Perpendicular style windows.[2] 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, and 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, Putney is located in Putney, on the south bank, and All Saints' Church, Fulham, is on the north bank.

Notable burials

Bishops of London

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

In the media

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.[5]

References
  1. Denny, Barbara (1997). Fulham Past. London: Historical Publications. pp. 35–39. ISBN 0-948667-43-5.
  2. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1286566)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  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. 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. Christmas 2017 from BBC Television, retrieved 23 December 2017

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