Parish Church of All Hallows by the Tower Greater London hotels:

The oldest church in the City of London: All Hallows by the Tower of London is a living church serving today's city community. Open seven days a week, a large team of people welcomes the community - city workers and visitors throughout the day, to worship, to listen, to discuss; to visit the Undercroft Museum, to bring the family to the Brass Rubbing Centre, one of only two such centres in London open for brass rubbing, and the bookstall; to hear good music, to enjoy art exhibitions and dance and drama. All Hallows is steeped in history, but its main impetus is living the gospel today in the community. The Saxon Abbey of Barking founded the church in 675, and an arch from the original church remains. Beneath the arch is a Roman pavement, discovered in 1926, evidence of city life on this site for the best part of 2000 years. Next to the Tower of London, the church has dealt with numerous beheaded bodies, including those of Thomas More, John Fisher and Archbishop Laud. William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, was baptised in the church and educated in the schoolroom (now the Parish Room). John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the USA, was married in All Hallows in 1797. In 1666 the Great Fire of London started in Pudding Lane, a few hundred yards from the church. All Hallows survived through the efforts of Admiral Penn, William Penn's father. In 1940 Hitler's bombs succeeded where the Great Fire had failed. Only the tower and the walls remained but the late Queen Mother laid a new foundation stone in 1948, and she attended the re-dedication service some nine years later.