Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great

St Bartholomew the Great is one of the oldest churches in London, founded in 1123 at the Augustinian monastery. It is called the Great to distinguish it from the neighboring St. Bartholomew the Less - built at the same time - a chapel for the sick within the Hospital of St. Bartholomew. The picturesque building is very much liked by filmmakers - shot here for images such as "Four weddings and a funeral", "Robin Hood. Prince of Thieves "," Shakespeare in Love "or" Avengers: Age of Ultron ".

St. Bartholomew the Great was erected on the order of Raherius (also known as Raher or Rahere) - a priest, monk and royal jester, protégé Henry I, who is best known as the founder of the Order of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew. The temple and hospital were a vote of thanks from Raherius for the miraculous recovery.

St. Hospital Bartholomew is the first hospital founded in Europe - it was not until the next century that the French Hôtel Dieu (1231) and the Italian Santa Maria Nuova (1288) joined it.