The Sun. — 1851-10-29 (London, England)

BOW CHURCH.  The history of this church is a strange one. As the writer has elsewhere remarked—if not originally a Roman temple, as was generally believed, it was one of the earliest churches built by our Norman conquerors: it has been destroyed by storm and fire; was at one time garrisoned and besieged; and was afterwards the scene of an assassination. We first find mention of it as u Christian church, in the reign of William the Conqueror. Stow says, it was the first in the City built on arches of stone, and that it was therefore called St. Mary de Arculms, or the Bow; although he elsewhere says, that it took its name from certain stone arches, supporting a lantern on the top of the tower. In the twelfth century, a tumult of a serious nature occurred in the City, which led to an assault upon the church. The ringleader was William Fitz-Osbert, surnamed Long•board, an individual of loose morals, who apparently possessed great talents, and was almost worshipped by the lower orders, on account of his exertions as a professed advocate for the poor, against the oppressions of the rich. An attempt being made to seise him, he took refuge in Bow steeple, together with various followers, and being well provided with ammunition and provisions, was able, for a long time, to defy the authorities. In, corder to drive him out  and dd aftertie o desired hasty treffect;al v r Lehi ee which had leeraweeta 281;1filer pepdrairsto nToefhr sits,h e steeple, thehri aout egs rt essde.wp probably been much injured during the attack on Fitz-Osbert, fell down, and caused the death of several persons. It seems, however, to have been repaired soon afterwards; for in 1284 we find that one Thicket, a goldsmith, who had seriously wounded a person named Ralph Crepin (under what circumstances is not mentioned), took refuge in this church, and slept in the steeple. While there, certain friends of Crepin entered during the night, and violating the sanctuary, first slew him, and then so placed the body as to induce the belief that he had committed suicide. A verdict to this effect was accordingly returned at the inquisition, and the body was interred with customary indignities. The real circumstances, however, being afterwards discovered through the evidence of a boy, who it appears was with bucket in his voluntary confinement, the murderers, amongst whom was a woman, were apprehended and executed. On this occurrence the church was interdicted for a time, and the doors and windows were stopped up with brambles. After the fire the present edifice was commenced by Wren. The whole of the works appear to have been completed in the year 1680. The crypt of Bow Church, which belongs apparently to the end of the eleventh century, is now filled with upon their share which have doubtless contributed in silence coffins of all ages and sizes piled one the other, ofpart of this 1849 we gave .a view of disease and premature death to the .1 ilntents of the neighbourhood. In crypt with its fearful furniture, which havewe. reason to know had its effect in rousing the public to a sen3e of permitting intramural interments. How much hty longer in ersuoh madness is to be permitted we know not. We repeat our:denunciation of the system, and would urge, with respect to Bow Church, that the bodies should bo immediately removed to consecrated ground, and any fresh deposits there be strictly prohibited. The crypt is ventilated, the coffins are put in fair order, and we would carefully avoid attaching blame to any individuals dividuals connected with this charnel-house, which is from being as bad as many others. It is against the system which we protest—a, syttm foul and murderous