A GRAVE in an ancient churchyard in London’s East End where one of the earliest American colonial governors is buried is featured in this year’s Open Weekend. Tours of the 700-year-old Bow Church where Philip Ludwell of Carolina Province is buried are being run on Friday and Saturday
A GRAVE in an ancient churchyard in London’s East End where one of the earliest American colonial governors is buried is featured in this year’s Open Weekend.
Tours of the 700-year-old Bow Church where Philip Ludwell, Governor of Carolina Province, is buried are being run together with an exhibition of St Mary’s parish history on Friday and Saturday.
Pride of place on the tour of the small church on an island in the middle of the A11 Bow Road is the grave of Philip Ludwell, who was buried buried in 1716.
EMIGRATED
He emigrated to Virginia in 1660 and was prominent in the colony’s early politics, before being appointed first Governor of the original Carolina province, north and south.
But Ludwell returned to England in mysterious circumstances.
“Maybe there was something finer than to be in Carolina,” said St Mary’s Rector Michael Peet. “It brought him back to Bow and we’re trying to find out what it was.”
The tour is part of the London 2012 Open Weekend, with Bow Church being on the Olympics avenue’ route to Stratford just a mile up the road. Tours are 11am to 5pm.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here