St Leonard's, Shoreditch

St. Leonard's, Shoreditch
18th century print of St. Leonard's
Country	United Kingdom
Denomination	Church of England
Architecture
Architect(s)	George Dance the Elder
Style	Palladian
Administration
Diocese	London
Clergy
Vicar(s)	Paul Turp

St Leonard's, Shoreditch, is the ancient parish church of Shoreditch, often known simply as Shoreditch Church. It is located at the intersection of Shoreditch High Street with Hackney Road, within the London Borough of Hackney. The current building dates from about 1740. The church is mentioned in the line "When I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch" from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons and is noted as being the resting place of many actors from the Tudor period.

The original church is possibly Saxon in origin, though the first historical reference to it occurs in the 12th century.

The church was situated near The Theatre, England's first purpose-built playhouse, built in Shoreditch in 1576, and the nearly contemporary Curtain Theatre (built in 1577). Several members of the theatrical profession from the Elizabethan period are buried in the church, including:

These, with others of their profession from the period, are commemorated by a large classical memorial erected by the London Shakespeare League in 1913, inside the church, which serves as a reminder of Shoreditch's Shakespearian heritage.

In 1774, the Shoreditch Vestry levied a special poor rate for the purpose of setting up a workhouse for the parish of St Leonard's which highlights the level of poverty in the area.

Following a partial collapse of the tower in 1716, the medieval church was rebuilt in Palladian style built by George Dance the Elder during 1736–40, with a soaring steeple 192 feet tall – an imitation of Christopher Wren's magnificent steeple on St Mary-le-Bow in Cheapside, – and a giant four columned, pedimented Tuscan portico. Inside the church the entablature is supported by giant Doric columns. Dance was also architect of the Mansion House. Many original 18th-century fixtures and fittings remain, including the font, the pulpit, the communion table, clock, organ case, bread cupboards and commandment boards. It was lit with gaslight in 1817, the first in London.