Editing St Bartholomew-the-Less (section)

==History==
The present establishment is the latest in a series of [[Church (building)|church]]es and [[chapel]]s associated with the [[hospital]] over the past 800 years. Its earliest predecessor, known as the Chapel of the Holy Cross, was founded nearby in 1123 (at the same time as the [[priory]], now the [[St Bartholomew-the-Great|Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great]]) before moving to the present site in 1184.<ref>Hibbert, C; Weinreb, D. & Keay, J. (1983) ''The London Encyclopaedia''. London: Pan Macmillan, 1983 (rev 1993, 2008); {{ISBN|978-1-4050-4924-5}}</ref>  

Along with most other religious foundations the hospital was dissolved by [[Henry VIII]]. It was then refounded by King Henry VIII, when the chapel became an [[Church of England|Anglican]] parish church serving those living within its precincts.<ref name=godwin>{{cite book |last1=Godwin |first1= George |author2=John Britton  |title=The Churches of London: A History and Description of the Ecclesiastical Edifices of the Metropolis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtI9AAAAcAAJ |year=1839  |publisher=C. Tilt |location= London}}</ref> Its suffix, "the less", was given to distinguish it from its larger neighbour, [[St Bartholomew the Great]] (the former priory).

The church's tower and west façade date from the 15th century, with two of its three bells dating from 1380 and 1420. They hang within an original medieval bell frame, believed to be the oldest in the City of London. In 1793, [[George Dance the Younger]], a [[Royal Academician]], created a new octagonal interior within the shell of the medieval chapel,<ref>Bradley, Simon & [[Nikolaus Pevsner|Pevsner, Nikolaus]] (1998) ''London: the City Churches''. London: Penguin Books (reissued by Yale University Press, New Haven, 2002; {{ISBN|0-300-09655-0}})</ref> its [[clerestorey]] rising above the old walls. The new construction was made entirely of wood and soon became affected by [[dry-rot]]. In 1823 it was replaced under the supervision of [[Thomas Hardwick]],<ref>"The City Churches" Tabor, M. p119:London; The Swarthmore Press Ltd; 1917.</ref> who replicated the timber construction in stone with an iron ceiling. He also made alterations to the detailing.<ref name=godwin/>

The church suffered some bomb damage during [[the Blitz]] of the [[Second World War]] but this was repaired and the church reopened by 1951.

St Bartholomew the Less Church's interior although small is light and airy, largely due to George Dance's use of high lunette windows.<ref>"The City of London Churches: monuments of another age" Quantrill, E; Quantrill, M p. 28: London; Quartet; 1975</ref> Its form is that of an octagonal Gothic vault fitted into a square by the means of adding open triangular chapels at its corners.<ref>Cobb, Gerald (1942) ''The Old Churches of London''. London: Batsford.</ref>

The church was designated a Grade II* [[listed building]] on 4 January 1950<ref>{{NHLE |num=1180946 |access-date=24 January 2009}}</ref> and is associated with the [[Haberdashers' Company]], its close neighbour in West Smithfield at Haberdashers' Hall, EC1.

After a few years in which the [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of the nearby [[St Bartholomew the Great]] was simultaneously [[Priest-in-Charge]] of St Bartholomew the Less, with the church retaining its own [[Parochial church council|PCC]] and [[Churchwardens]], on 1 June 2015, the parishes of both churches were dissolved and replaced with the united benefice of [[Great St Bartholomew]]. The [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of the former parish of [[St Bartholomew the Great]] became [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of the united benefice. The boundary of the new parish incorporates precisely both former parishes. There is now a single [[Parochial church council|PCC]] and [[Churchwardens]] responsible for both buildings. The parish church is [[St Bartholomew the Great]], while St Bartholomew the Less is a [[Chapel of Ease]] within the parish. Services continue to be held at the church, especially a 12:30 Anglican Eucharist on Tuesdays, a 12:30 Roman Catholic Mass at 12:30 on Thursdays, and a 10:00 Anglican Family Eucharist on most Sundays of the year.