Fulham Palace, situated on the banks of the River Thames, was the country home of the Bishops of London from the 11th Century. Described as ‘The best kept secret in London’ the Grade 1 listed building and 20-acre gardens were recently renovated.
Within the Palace we have created a unique environment that combines traditional surroundings with state-of-the-art facilities including spacious meeting rooms (for up to 20 people), client conferencing, and audio-visual suites, an on-site restaurant and ample parking.
Fulham Palace was the Bishop of London’s residence for over a thousand years. Over the years there have been many influential creative and colourful individuals holding office. We like to think that we can maintain this tradition! Select an image to find out more:
Cedd spent much of his early life evangelising much of the British Isles. He founded many monasteries, including the one at Lastingham for which he fasted for 40 days to purify the site.
In death, however, he undid much of his great work. He was one of 30 monks to die of the plague at Lastingham – causing a partial reversion to paganism.
Legend has it that Dunstan fought the Devil, nailing a horseshoe to his enemy and only removing it once the Devil promised to never enter a place with a horseshoe over the door, hence the lucky charm.
This story, along with his skill as a statesman and devoted monk made him the most popular Saint in England for nearly 200 years. (The Patron Saint of Goldsmiths).
As Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury, Warham played an important role in the court of Henry VIII, presiding over the King’s first marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
He was also one of the Queen’s counsellors in the controversial divorce proceedings, but fearing the King’s wrath, gave her little help. In his later years he did protest, in vain, against Henry’s control of the church.
Ridley was a staunch protestant and supporter of Lady Jane Grey. Along with three other priests, he was burned at the stake by Queen Mary I in her attempt to restore Catholicism to England.
The three ‘Oxford martyrs’ are still remembered in the rhyme ‘three blind mice’, a reference to the execution.
Grindal’s great legacy is the ‘Free grammar school’, the first of which he established in his native village of St Bees.
He published the statutes for the school, ‘a series of minute and specific regulations’, only three days before his death. Nevertheless this school established a tradition of learning that has continued for over four centuries.
Lowth wrote one of the most influential textbooks of English grammar.
While in effect the text records Lowth’s stylistic opinions, it greatly appealed to those who wished for authority and certainty in their language.
‘A Short Introduction to English Grammar’ was first published in 1762 and was still the textbook in standard usage in British schools until the early 20th century.
Porteus was the first Anglican in a position of authority to seriously challenge the Church’s position on slavery. Porteus made a huge contribution to the antislavery lobby, challenging the establishment himself, as well as encouraging and aiding the political initiatives of others such as William Wilberforce and Sir William Dolben to secure the eventual passage of the Slave Trade Bill in 1807.
Laud was a firm believer in ‘high church’ policy, and seen by many as a religious persecutor. He convicted three men of ‘seditious libel’ and had their ears cropped and foreheads branded with SL.
The tables were soon turned however, with the onset of the civil war. In 1641 Laud was accused of treason and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was beheaded on January 10, 1645, notwithstanding being granted a royal pardon.
As Archbishop of Canterbury, Fisher presided over the marriage of HRH Princess Elizabeth, and later at her coronation.
He is also remembered for his visit to Pope John XXIII in 1960, the first meeting between and Archbishop of Canterbury and a Pope since the Reformation, making an important milestone for both the Anglican and Catholic churches.
Creighton, a man of stern will and determination, was perhaps the hardest working of all the Bishops of London. A noted historian, he was also involved in many social reforms – educational, political and religious.
His over zealous work ethic led to his demise, literally ‘working himself to death’.
