[Some people went far saying Shoreditch is the birthplace of modern-day
Theatres-Arif]
Shakespeare's church found in Shoreditch
Bard's place of worship is located in London's East End
By Robin Stummer
Shakespeare's "lost" local church in London may have been found – beneath some
flower beds and cracked paving stones. New research has pinpointed the site of
the old church of St Leonard, which was the centre of worship and burial for
many of the leading actors and personalities of the Shakespearean stage,
including the Bard himself. A study of archive material has revealed that much
of the building may still exist, buried underground in an extraordinary time
capsule.
The long-lost church has been identified in the heart of Shoreditch, the east
London district that has more recently become the haunt of late-night clubbers
and Brit artists. The old church was demolished in the 18th century and traces
of it erased. A new St Leonard's was later constructed in the area, but it has
now been established that it was built some distance away from its former home.
Shakespeare lived for several years in Shoreditch and is believed to have known
the church well, worshipping there. At the time, the area was a haven for
artists and actors, and notorious for boozing, prostitution and violence. Plays
and playhouses were banned within the City, making Shoreditch, on its northern
fringe, a magnet for actors and writers. The church was also local for the
playwright-spy Christopher Marlowe, and later Ben Jonson, the Bard's friend and
rival. Edmund Shakespeare, the playwright's infant nephew who died when only a
few days old, was baptised at the church.
An investigation by the Rev Paul Turp, vicar of St Leonard's, has established
that the old church stood in a depression, at least 10 feet below the level of
adjacent streets, and was only partially demolished. He believes it was simply
"filled in" to make the land level with surrounding streets and that a
substantial part of the building remains buried, waiting to be uncovered. He
has identified the likely site and hopes that archaeologists will investigate
further.
"There were tombs of important people in the old church," he says. "If they are
still there, under part of the later church, it's not too difficult a job to
excavate them. What I would love to find, as a church man, would be the
original stone font, dating back to 1182. For me, that would be the greatest
excitement of all."
Among those buried at St Leonard's were many of Shakespeare's friends and
associates, including Richard Burbage, who first played the roles of Hamlet,
Othello and King Lear.
The Independent, Sunday, 30 March 2008
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/shakespeares-church-found-in-shoreditch-802604.html
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