Dating back to 1123, St Bartholomew the Great is one of the oldest churches in London. With its majestic Norman arches and deep-rooted history, this sacred space exudes an ancient serenity. The experience is heightened when one passes through the 13th-century half-timbered gatehouse. St Bartholomew the Great was originally part of an Augustinian priory but came to serve as the parish church of Smithfield after Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1539.