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