The Church of the
Holy Sepulchre
Based on
the design of the original church in Jerusalem, Simon de St.Liz had
this one built in Northampton. Roughly half the size of the
Jerualem church it was erected in the year 1100 after his safe
return from his first crusade, it still stands and is now over 900
years old. It is Northamptons oldest building. One of only four
remaining round churches of the Knights Templar, it is the best
preserved and one of the largest. This church has survived many
wars and battles and was one of the few buildings to survive the
Great Fire of 1675. Located in Sheep street, it is still in use
today.
At The Holy Sepulchre, three original
Norman windows survive: one to the left of the south porch at low
level and two on the north at high level. The fact that windows are
positioned at two different levels indicates there would have been
a gallery. Evidence of a corbel running round the perimeter
supports the theory. In the mid 1800's the prolific architect Sir
George Gilbert Scott was involved in extensive restoration to bring
the church into its present state.
