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Sherlock's Law and Watson's Downey, Jr. in London on location
It's not new news that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most identifiable literary character will come to life on the big screen once again Christmas Day.
What's not so evident is how this film came to be. For instance, while making Guy Ritchie's version of Sherlock Holmes, Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law did a lot of unintentional sightseeing in England.
One such travel/location stop: West Smithfield in the City of London and specifically The Priory Church of Saint Bartholomew the Great.
Downey, Jr., Law and other members of the cast and crew spent days at St. Barts, one of Blighty's oldest parish churches, founded in the 12th century in 1143. Other films have taken advantage of St. Bart's amazing architecture, being shown in such movies as Four Weddings and A Funeral and Shakespeare in Love.
Fully active, this Angelican/Episcopal house of worship is open to the public. Originally part adjoining St. Bartholomew's Hospital, this significant church shows a prime example of classic Norman interior. On August 24, known as St. Bartholomew's Day, people who are ill or disabled show up in droves in hopes of being rewarded with curative powers in which the church is saud to provide.
To put St. Barts in historical perspective, the parish chuch was erected by Rahere when William the Conqueror's son, Henry I was King of England. St. Barts has survived many atrocities, including the Great Fire in 1666, the Zeppelin raids during World War 1, and World War II's horrific The Blitz.
Should you be in London this Sunday, August 2, 2009, stop by for Holy Communion at 9 a.m. or the Choral Evensong without sermon at 6:30 p.m.
Note: Since the Reformation, The Reverend Martin Dudley BD MSc MTh PhD FSA FRHistS AKC is the 25th Rector of the Priory Church. I am not sure what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's participation in St. Bart's was prior to the filming of Sherlock Holmes, but if I find out I will share this information in the next part of this series on the new film starring Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as his newest dear Watson.
Click here for part 2 of this series.
Photo: The vision that is St. Barts in The City of London, site of a location shoot for the upcoming film, Sherlock Holmes
Comments
This is a nice background piece. Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. What's it about that Robert Downey. Jr....
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