All Hallows means 'all saints' and the feast was instituted when martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honoured. All Saints Day has been celebrated on November 1st since the 8th century.
1st-5th century: The Romans
In the crypt museum, still in its original place and at the ground level of Roman times, is a section of tessellated floor from a 2nd century dwelling. There are also other artefacts from the Roman occupation of this site.
5th-11th century: The Saxons
In 675 AD Erkenwald was made Bishop of London and founded, on this site, a chapel of Barking Abbey, where his sister, Ethelberga, served as Abbess. Whilst the first church was made of wood, the undercroft and the great Saxon arch probably date from the 8th century and are part of the first stone church on this site. The Saxon arch is believed to be the oldest Saxon arch within the City of London.
11th-15th century: Medieval Times
All Hallows passed between various ownership from the turn of the first millennium to the 16th century. In 1539 it was exchanged to the patronage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, where it remains to this day.
12th-14th century: The Order of the Knights Templar
In 1119 the Order of the Knights Templar was founded. They would go on to become wealthy and influential throughout Europe, which brought them into conflict with the Catholic church. In 1307, Pope Clement instructed all Christian monarchs to arrest Templar Knights and seize their assets. King Edward II, who was unenthusiastic about this, was compelled to receive Inquisition Judges and, in 1311, trials were held at All Hallows.
The altar, in the Undercroft Chapel, is made of stones from Richard I's Castle Atlit, in Palestine.
16th century: The Tudors
With the Reformation, and King Henry VIII proclaiming himself Supreme Head of the Church in England, All Hallows would have a tragic relationship with the King. In 1535, the first to suffer was Bishop John Fisher, who was executed on Tower Hill, followed two days later by Sir Thomas More.
17th century: Church Rebuilding
In 1650, a massive explosion occurred on Tower Street, causing the destruction of a dozen houses, with two dozen more left uninhabitable or severely damaged, and resulting in 67 deaths. In 1658 it was noticed that the tower at All Hallows had been damaged in the explosion, causing it to require either repair or rebuilding. Work began on the tower, in 1659, which, as church building wasn't going ahead during the Commonwealth era, makes the tower at All Hallows an architectural gem.
17th century: The Great Fire of 1666
On Tuesday September 4th, 1666, Samuel Pepys, who was at the top of the steeple, witnessed the Great Fire rush down Tower Street towards the church. As the Navy Office was situated close by, Admiral General Sir William Penn ordered the destruction of houses, surrounding the church and Navy Office, to be destroyed to create a firebreak, thus saving both buildings.
20th century: The Blitz
Having survived for nearly 1300 years, without too much damage, All Hallows was struck by a bomb, in December 1940, that blew a hole in the east wall. A few weeks later firebombs set the rest of the wreckage alight. All that remained was the tower, north and south walls and part of the east end.
On July 19th 1948, King George VI's Queen, Elizabeth, laid the foundation stone.
In 1957 the new church was completed and rededicated.
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