John Betjeman and St Bartholomew’s Hospital and St Bartholomew the Great
Congratulations on your 900th anniversary. Today, Saturday 25 March 2023 is the 900th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of St Bartholomew Hospital and Priory. The anniversary is being marked by a special parade and service at St Bartholomew the Great, and events throughout the year.
John Betjeman, while he lived at Cloth Fair, regularly attended the Sunday services at St Bartholomew the Great and on Thursday’s visited patients at the hospital. Through his hospital visits he became friends with many at the staff especially Sister Fleet Street and Sister Percival Potts (the names of their Wards). His visits inspired the poem ‘St Bartholomew’s Hospital’ in ‘In Praise of Churches‘. For more see Bevis Hillier, John Betjeman ‘New Fame, New Love (pp 505 – 511, 2002).
Look our for David Meara’s talk on Thursday 22 June as part of the ‘Bart’s and Betjeman’ event at St Bartholomew the Great. More details to follow on www.barts900.org.
St Bartholomew the Great
Congratulations St Bart’s Hospital on your 900th anniversary