St Leonard C of E Church

The church itself has not much to offer, but I was lucky enough to have an chance to visit its crypt during the Illumini Festival last year.
I already knew that the area beneath the vicinity of the church is a site of a massive graveyard, but I wasn’t aware that there is a piles of lead coffins stuck in the basement of the church can be seen by the candle light. What’s interesting is that the crypt is a place of burial of many of the most significant figures of Elizabethan and Shakespearean theatre, includinf Richard Burbage, the first actor to ever play Hamlet.
The guided tour was lead by the Rev’d. Paul Turp, who surprisingly lives in Hoxton Squre (unusual for a priest to live in the party hub of the town, isn’t it?) and loves the vibe of Shoreditch! During a 90-​minute walk in the dark tunnels of the church crypt (mind the bones lying aroud here and there) you can hear interesting facts from the local history, grim urban legends and ghost stories, passionately presented by the vicar who clearly enjoy talking about the corpses and tombs. We were told that walks can be arranged with the priest, but you’d better check it up.
But if you don’t fancy spooky stuff, they organize exhibitions and concerts every now and then, just check their website for details.

When I set myself the task of reviewing the churches in the rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ I wasn’t expecting to have problems with the closest Thing is St Leonards is not a tourist church, and is not generally left open. Though it has a banner outside advertising a drop in session each afternoon, I wandered round at the right time and could find no sign of anyone around. It seems the only time to actually get inside is during Sunday service. Not being a Christian I’m not sure it’s appropriate for me to go sightseeing at such a time!
So, I’ve not been inside
In the rhyme St Leonards is the ‘Bells of Shoreditch’ (‘When I am rich, said the bells of Shoreditch’), a line possibly referring to the long standing poverty of the area. Though one source I’ve read reckons the rhyme originally referred to Fleetditch and the bells were at St Brides. The church was founded in the 12 Century, but after a collapse (during a service what’s more) in 1716, it was rebuilt in the 1730’s, with a spire copying St Mary-​le-​Bow church in Cheapside.
The church is quite grand in appearance from outside, though the tightly sealed doors and grated windows are just a little depressing The churchyard is rumoured to contain the remains of the town stocks, though again one source I have says they have been removed, and I didn’t find them. I did find what appeared to be a rusted water pump. The church was close to the first two theatres (The Theatre, and The Curtain Theatre), and as such was the original actor’s church. Richard Burbage, builder of the Curtain Theatre and the first person to play Hamlet, is buried there. It’s also the resting place of Dr James Parkinson, who gave his name to Parkinson’s Disease.
It’s not an official site, but for those who are interested a more in-​depth history of the church can be read at