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.
