All Hallows-by-the-Tower is an ancient Anglican church located in Byward Street in the City of London, overlooking the Tower of London.

It was first established in 675 by the now-defunct Saxon Barking Abbey and was for many years named after the abbey, as All Hallows Barking. The church was built on the site of a former Roman building, traces of which may be observed if one ventures into the crypt. It was expanded and rebuilt several times between the 11th century and 15th century. Its proximity to the Tower meant that it acquired royal connections, with Edward IV making it a royal chantry and the beheaded victims of Tower executions being sent for temporary burial at All Hallows.

The church was badly damaged by a nearby explosion in 1649, which demolished its west tower, and only narrowly survived the Great Fire of London in 1666. It owed its survival to Admiral William Penn, who saved it by having the surrounding buildings demolished to create firebreaks. Since then, however, the church gradually fell into disrepair, as congregations shifted their attendance to the somewhat grander parish of St Magnus the Martyr, nearby to London Bridge. despite this, All Hallows ever sustained a small but proud congregation, its vicar and deacons (led by Rev. Whitby Driscoll) managing to keep the place afloat, if not in top form.

On the night of the Albion Tragedy, All-Hallows-by-the-Tower found itself being put to new and sudden use. Due to its close location to the site of the explosion over Tower Bridge, the church opened its doors to the injured and frightened, offering aid where it could. Over the course of the next few chaotic days, as other parishes and wealthy benefactors rallied round, All-Hallows-by-the-Tower Hospice was formed, providing aid and comfort to those left homeless and injured by the East End Fires. Managed by the energetic young Rev. Christopher Mellings (in conjunction with the vicar, naturally), All-Hallows Hospice ministers to the East End and the Tower Hill area. They offer a soup kitchen three nights a week, limited shelter for the homeless, medical aid (Doctors Wm. Torday and Jas. Vaughan in practice) and of course morning and evening prayers are every day but Saturday at 8.30 and 5.30. Sunday services begin at 10. All are welcome.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "All Hallows-by-the-Tower".