The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Northampton comes as a bit of a surprise. While the exterior owes it origins to an 1860s restoration, the interior dates to the medieval times and is based on the world-famous eight-sided church of the same name in Jerusalem. Visit the church to discover its highly unusual architecture and long history.
Approach the pretty little red brick church and the first thing you will notice is the unusual rounded section sitting between the elegant tower and the nave. Restored by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott at the end of the 19th century, it does appear quite modern. Yet step through the porch and the interior tells a very different story.
Similarly shaped churches such as Charlemagne’s chapel at Aachen and San Vitale in Ravenna are often associated with the Knights Templar, as was the original Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Holy Land. This type of church is not common in Britain, so this example in Northampton is all the more impressive. Take the time to learn about the history of the church on your visit. The Earl of Northampton and crusader Simon de Senlis are credited with building the rounded church in 1110.
Look up into the great recesses of the church, which rises three levels high and is topped with a wooden-beamed ceiling.
Also of interest are the stained-glass windows. One depicts Richard Coeur de Lyon at the battle of Joppa. Another is dedicated to Caroline Chisholm, who helped many thousands of young girls and families to find homes and work during the colonization of Australia.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, also known locally as St. Seps, is located in Northampton’s city center and is easily accessible by public transportation or on foot. There is a parking lot next to the church, which is open on Saturday afternoons from May until the end of September. It makes for an off-the-beaten-path but worthwhile excursion.
