St Bartholomew-the-Less

     Hidden away from Smithfield, in the grounds of St Bart's, is a small parish church, St Bartholomew-the-less. Very unprepossessing, simple Late Medieval tower of rubble masonry, plastered aisles.  An almost village feeling.  It could be almost anywhere in south-east England.

     Inside, a centrally planned Gothick church of about 1793 by that very interesting architect George Dance the Younger.  A paraphrase of Late Antiquity, fitting very well with 18th century, pre-Tractarian Anglicanism, with its emphasis on 'primitive' Christianity, what today is called the Patristic Period/Era.  Rather like another church by Dance, St Mary, Micheldever, Hampshire.* Not what one would expect at all. It's rather like entering an enormous chapter house.  A bit too cool for my tastes, but verging upon the sublime.  Subjected to a thorough-going nineteenth century restoration incl tracery in the clearstory windows where none existed before, and rebuilding the apse in French Gothic style.  Compare and contrast below.  Numerous monuments.

St Bartholomew the Less, Smithfield, London, the interior with a churchwarden standing in the aisle. Zincograph by W. A. Delamotte, 1844. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection. https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pukzxred

*And there is also St Dunstan-in-the-West, on Fleet St, 1830-3 by John Shaw senior.