Parish of St Leonard, Shoreditch , Church of England

The parish of Saint Leonard, Shoreditch, was in existence from at least the 12th century, and included, amongst others, the hamlets of Hoxton and Haggerston. After part of the medieval tower collapsed during a service, the church was rebuilt by George Dance the Elder in 1736-1740. Burials at Saint Leonard's include Will Sommers, Henry VIII's jester, and Richard Burbage, Shakespeare's friend.

In the 19th century new parishes were formed in response to rapid population expansion in the area; including Saint Mary Haggerston and Saint John the Baptist Hoxton. Saint John the Baptist was initially built in 1825-26 as a Chapel and consecrated in June 1826. Under a licence of the Bishop of London dated April 1828 the church of Saint Leonard Shoreditch was shut up for repair works and the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist Hoxton was used for services for Saint Leonard Shoreditch including the reading of banns and the performance of marriage ceremonies. Saint John the Baptist Hoxton began keeping its own registers in 1830.