All Hallows Barking

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

On the north side of Great Tower Street at the south-east corner of Seething Lane. In Tower Ward.


Earliest mention found in records : " Berkinchechirche," 13 Stephen (Reg. Roffense, p.117).

Other forms : " Berchinge-chirche," temp. H. II. (ib. 45). " Ecclesia Omnium Sanctorum de Berkingecherche," H.111. (Anc. Deeds, A. 1628). " Berkyngcherche," 4 Ed. I. 1275-6 (Cal. L. Bk. B. p. 258). " Berkinkecherche," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I.21).

" All Hallows called Berckinges-church," 1285 (ib. 71). " Eccl. Omnium Sanctorum de Berkyngchirche," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I.230). "Parish of St. Mary de Berkyngcherch," 1349 (Ct. H.W. I.612). " Berkynggecherche parish towards the Tower" (Anc. Deeds, A. 1925). "All Saints, Tower Street," 6 H. V. (Anc. Deeds, C. 1295). "All Hallows de Berkyng," 1433 (Ct. H.W. II.467). " All Souls Barking," 1502 (Lond. I. p.m. I.48).

A chapel called " Berkyngchapel," erected by Richard I, adjoined the churchyard, and the north chancel aisle of the church is said to have been erected afterwards on a portion of this site (Maskell, 14).

Church restored and a College of Priests founded, temp. Ric. III. Suppressed 1548.

The curfew was to be sounded here every night, 44 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. G. p.270).

Church again restored 1613, 1634, and 1814.

Brick steeple erected 1659.

The church was not destroyed in the Great Fire, 1666, the dial and porch only being burnt. It was severely damaged in 1649 by an explosion of gunpowder, with the result that portions only of it retain their mediaeval character, these older portions being the pillars dividing the nave from the north and south aisles, the masonry of the east wall of the chancel and perhaps of the east window. But the tracery of the window has been renewed. The western end of the church was the most severely damaged (L. and Midd. Arch. Soc. II. 126-7).

Registers commence 1558.

A perpetual Vicarage. Patrons : The advowson of the church was given by private owners Riculphus and Brichtwen in the time of Stephen to the See of Rochester (Reg. Roff. p.117). By 31 Ed. I. it had passed into the hands of the" monialium de Berkynge" (Lib. Cust. I. 235). At the suppression of the monasteries it was given by Henry VIII. to the See of Canterbury, 37 H. VIII., in whose possession it has since remained (L. and M. Arch. Soc. Trans. II.127).

Name : Dedication to All Hallows and the Blessed Virgin Mary (Newcourt, I. p.239). An example of a double dedication. See Churches, Dedications.

It is suggested that the name Barking was added to the dedication because of the connection of the church with the Abbey of Barking to distinguish it from the other churches in London also dedicated to All Hallows (Newcourt, I.239). But if so, it must have belonged to the Abbey before the grant of the advowson in the time of Stephen to the See of Rochester, as it is described in that grant as "Berkinchechirche" (Reg. Roff. p.117).

See St. Mary de Berkyngcherch, Chapel.

A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.

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