Historic churches · London
St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch
In or near City of London.
St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch — church in the London Borough of Hackney.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 30 min–1 h
- Nearest railway station
- Shoreditch High Street · 0.4 km
- Free entry
Getting there & planning your visit
St Leonard's Church is located in Hackney, London, with the postcode E1 6JN. The nearest railway station is Shoreditch High Street, which is 0.4 km away. Entry to the church is free.
About
St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch is a historic church in the United Kingdom. Designed by George Dance the Elder. Built in the Palladian architecture style. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Affiliated with Anglicanism. Wikidata describes it as: "church in the London Borough of Hackney". Coordinates: 51.5267°, -0.0772°.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2025
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
St Leonard's, Shoreditch, is the old parish church of Shoreditch, often known simply as Shoreditch Church. It is located at the intersection of Shoreditch High Street with Hackney Road, within the London Borough of Hackney in East London. The current building dates from about 1740 and is Grade I listed. The church is mentioned in the line "'When I grow rich', say the bells of Shoreditch" from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Official information
St Leonard's Church, known as the 'Actor's Church', has a rich history tied to the early development of English theatre. The church, built in 1741, serves as a community hub and is involved in a regeneration plan to revitalize the area.
From the Wikipedia article
St Leonard's, Shoreditch, is the old parish church of Shoreditch, often known simply as Shoreditch Church. It is located at the intersection of Shoreditch High Street with Hackney Road, within the London Borough of Hackney in East London. The current building dates from about 1740 and is Grade I listed. The church is mentioned in the line "'When I grow rich', say the bells of Shoreditch" from the nursery rhyme Oranges and Lemons. The crypt beneath the church is the final resting place of many actors from the Tudor period.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The original church is possibly Anglo-Saxon in origin, and is thought to be built on the site of an Anglo-Saxon predecessor. The first historical reference to it occurs in the 12th century. The church was situated near The Theatre, England's first purpose-built playhouse, built in Shoreditch in 1576, and the Curtain Theatre (built in 1577). Several members of the theatrical profession from the Elizabethan period are buried in the church, including: These, with others of their profession from the period, are commemorated by a large classical memorial erected by the London Shakespeare League in 1913, inside the church, which serves as a reminder of Shoreditch's Shakespearian heritage. The…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5267, -0.0772
- District
- Hackney
- Parish
- Hackney, unparished area
- Postcode
- E1 6JN
- Parliamentary constituency
- Hackney South and Shoreditch
- Nearest railway station
- Shoreditch High Street — 0.4 km
- Official site
- www.shoreditchchurch.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q7593974 (CC0)
- wikipedia: St Leonard's, Shoreditch (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: St Leonard's church, Shoreditch High Street - geograph.org.uk - 141922.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch?
- St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch is in London, United Kingdom (postcode E1 6JN), in the parish of Hackney, unparished area.
- What is St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch?
- St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch — church in the London Borough of Hackney.
- How do I get to St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch?
- The nearest railway station is Shoreditch High Street, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode E1 6JN.
- Is St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch a listed building?
- St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch free to visit?
- Yes, St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch is free to enter.
- How do I get to St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch?
- The nearest railway station is Shoreditch High Street, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode E1 6JN.