The Foundation

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate

Richard Reeve left part of his estate in trust to the Minister and Churchwardens of St Sepulchre's Newgate and thus was established Reeve's Foundation. St Sepulchre's is the largest parish church in the City of London. There has been a church on the site since the ninth century and a church in the name of St Sepulchre since 1137.

The current Gothic tower, porch and outer walls date from 1450. The main body of the church was gutted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt in 1670-71.

A major restoration of the church in 1878 returned it to the Gothic style albeit with Victorian Gothic character. The Tower contains the historic 'Bells of Old Bailey'. The largest tower bell was rung for executions at Newgate Prison (where the Old Bailey now stands) and a handbell was rung at midnight outside the condemned prisoner's cell. The tower bells were restored in 1985.

The Foundation is pleased that the historic links with St Sepulchre's are still maintained through the active participation of the Rector and Churchwardens as Governors of the Foundation.