Holy Sepulchre Church, Northampton

Simon de Senlis, Earl of Northampton, and I have one thing in common: we have both been to Jerusalem’s 'round' Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I think we were both equally impressed, but he had the means and the patience to construct something of a replica in the principal town of his earldom, now known as the Holy Sepulchre Church of Northampton. De Senlis had been on the First Crusade whereas I was on a summer holiday, but the imposing and gigantic church, the reputed site of both the Saviour's death and resurrection, is somewhere neither of us could forget.

The original is far easier to access than Northampton’s copy. Calling in September, I was advised by a functionary at the front door that it would be open for a Heritage Day in October, and would I mind coming back then? I explained that I lived far away but the individual’s compassion, or common sense, or adherence to protocol was unmoved. Once again, I made do with an inspection of the outsides, though this was hard enough seeing as even the grounds are not open to the public. Perhaps this is appropriate: Jerusalem’s HS is within the walls of Jerusalem, and de Senlis’ replica seems to be guarded just as jealously.

The round bit can be clearly seen from its rear, a dim echo of fourth-century Jerusalem. Round churches, or even round chancels, never really took off in England, though a few examples survive. Maybe they are harder to build, just as circles are harder to draw than rectangles. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the crusades (an increasing number of people in the West are seeing them as a justified defence against Islamic expansionism contrary to the received wisdom of their being purely aggressive and unnecessary), this church in our midlands is a little token of earthly Jerusalem. I hope that, in our worship, fellowship and service, there are present tokens of that future, Heavenly Jerusalem, the splendours of which are beautifully described in the final chapter of John’s Revelation.

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. Hebrews 12:22

A.D