Some twenty round churches were built in the Middle Ages in England.
They reminded the Knights Templar and Knights Hospitallers of the rotunda, part of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. A 4th century tradition is that it is on the site both of Christ’s crucifixion and his empty tomb. It was built in the 4th century by the Emperor Constantine and although it exists today, it has been altered following its destruction by Al-Hakim, the sixth Fatimid caliph and 16th Ismaili imam, in 1009.
There are controversial and diverse views of Al-Hakim. “Historian Paul Walker writes “Ultimately, both views of him, the mad and despotic tyrant (like Germanic and Roman despots) irrationally given to killing those around him on a whim, and the ideal supreme ruler, divinely ordained and chosen, whose every action was just and righteous, were to persist, the one among his enemies and those who rebelled against him, and the other in the hearts of true believers, who, while perhaps perplexed by events, nonetheless remained avidly loyal to him to the end.” “(Wikipedia). The Crusaders captured the site in 1099 and its reconstruction over the centuries means today it is a significantly different structure from Constantine’s 4th century rotunda. But I digress.
Now four round churches remain in England of which Northampton’s is the oldest, largest and best preserved, it boasts, although whether Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of the Temple, would agree is debatable. Northampton was built circa 1100 and the Temple in 1162. The latter has a diameter of 55 feet but I didn’t measure the former. The Temple is certainly well preserved. The other two round churches are the Holy Sepulchre in Cambridge and St John the Baptist in Little Maplestead, Essex.
There is no doubt the Holy Sepulchre in Northampton is a magnificent rarity but it is ill lit detracting from its power. Indeed it was impossible to take a good photograph. There is an altar in the centre of the round and the congregation sit round the circumference. Maybe they turn the lights on. The Tower dates from the 14th century and contains a ring of eight bells. It is the only church in Northampton to have kept its 17th century bells. They are reportedly very loud.
The Becket Chapel, dating from the 12th century, is in memory of St Thomas a Becket who was tried in Northampton Castle. “On Tuesday 6th October 1164 Thomas Becket, Chancellor of the realm and Archbishop of Canterbury arrived in Northampton to stand trial before King Henry II and his Great Council – made up of Nobles, Bishops and Abbots – in the Great Hall of the castle. Thomas Becket had been King Henry’s best friend and as Chancellor the King’s right-hand man. Henry thought that he would be able to control the Church in England by making Becket Archbishop of Canterbury. He was so wrong.
They argued about the rights of the Church versus the Crown. The trial at Northampton Castle was a final attempt by Henry II to force Becket to submit to the right of the Crown. Becket lodged at nearby St. Andrew’s Priory for the week-long trial and processed each day to the castle. The trial did not go well for Becket. Even some of the Bishops tried to persuade him to accept Henry II’s authority and demands. But Becket stood firm for the rights of the Church. By the following Tuesday Becket was worried that he would be imprisoned or even sentenced to death. He decided to leave the castle while he could and returned to the temporary safety of St. Andrew’s Priory.
Before dawn the next day, on Wednesday 14th October, aided by the monks Becket escaped through the town’s north gate and headed for Lincoln and finally to exile in France. After six years of exile, helped by the Pope and the King of France, Henry and Becket made peace with one another;Becket returned to England, arriving at Canterbury on the 18th December 1170.
Eleven days later, on the 29th December 1170, he was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by knights who thought that getting rid of him would please King Henry. The Christian world was shocked. Instead of getting control of the Church, Henry II had to show that he was sorry and publicly accept the rights of the Church.
In 1173 Becket was canonised as St. Thomas of Canterbury. During the Medieval period, his shrine at Canterbury was one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the Christian world.” (Friends of Northampton Castle)
I forgot to say this rare, round church was built by Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, who had been on the First Crusade. He was married to Maud, William the Conqueror’s niece, and it seems likely that although the concept was Simon’s she footed the bill.
(to be continued)