St Botolph's, Aldersgate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Botolph's, Aldersgate |
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| St Botolph without Aldersgate | |
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| Location | London, EC1 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England, Presbyterian |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | London |
St. Botolph without Aldersgate is an old Church of England church in London. It is named after St. Botolph, an important saint. This church stands just outside where Aldersgate, one of the old gates in London's city wall, used to be.
You can find the church on Aldersgate Street. It was first built a very long time ago, in the Middle Ages. Even though the Great Fire of London happened, the church was only slightly damaged. But over time, it got old and needed to be rebuilt. This happened between 1788 and 1791.
The church is famous for its beautiful inside and its old organ. Today, a group called the London City Presbyterian Church also uses it for their services.
Contents
Who Was Saint Botolph?
The church is named after Saint Botolph, who lived in the 7th century. He was an abbot, which is a leader of a monastery, in East Anglia.
By the end of the 1000s, people thought of Saint Botolph as the patron saint of borders and travel. This meant he was seen as a protector for people on journeys or those involved in trade. People prayed to him a lot before the story of St. Christopher became more popular for travelers.
There were four churches in London named after Saint Botolph. Three of them were just outside the city gates: St. Botolph without Aldersgate, St. Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, and St. Botolph's, Aldgate. The fourth, St. Botolph Billingsgate, was near the river where ships docked. This church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was never rebuilt. The fact that these churches were on the edge of London shows how Saint Botolph was connected to travel and trade.
The Church's Long History
This church has been around for a very long time, even before the year 1291. The first church leader we know about was John de Steventon in 1333.
The Medieval Church Building
The original church was built in the Gothic style. It had aisles and a main area called a nave, separated by arches. In 1627, the church's tower was rebuilt using Portland stone. It had battlements, which are like the tops of castle walls, and a small turret. The rest of the church was also repaired at this time. Many of the old wooden seats were replaced, and a new clock was put in. All these improvements cost about £415.
The medieval church was about 78 feet (24 meters) long and 51 feet (16 meters) wide. The tower built in the 1600s was about 65 feet (20 meters) tall and held six bells. In 1773, a description of the church said it had wooden balconies on the north and west sides, oak seats, and a beautifully carved oak pulpit.
Rebuilding in the 1700s
Even though the church was only slightly damaged in the Great Fire of London, it became unsafe over time. So, it was taken down and rebuilt into the church you see today. This happened between 1788 and 1791. Nathaniel Wright, who was a surveyor for the City of London, oversaw the work.
The new church was made of brick. It has a low, square bell tower at the west end, which was built on the foundations of the old stone tower.
The outside of the church looks quite plain. But inside, it's very different! The writer John Betjeman said the inside features were "exalting," meaning they were inspiring. The interior has wooden balconies supported by square columns. There's a round space at the east end called an apse with a half-dome ceiling. The plasterwork on the ceiling is very fancy.
At the east end, you can see the only 18th-century stained glass window in the City of London. It shows a scene called The Agony in the Garden and was painted by James Pearson. Some of the stained glass in the aisles is from the Victorian era, and some is from the 1940s.
Some old monuments from the medieval church were kept, like the tomb of Anne Packington, who died in 1563. The organ, which is in a balcony at the west end, was made by Samuel Green in 1788.
The front of the church, facing Aldersgate Street, was added in 1831. It's made of a material called Roman cement and has a triangular top part called a pediment. It also has four tall, decorative columns and a special window with three parts.
The church has been repaired and updated several times since the 1800s. Many of the things inside, like the furniture, are from the late 1800s. In the mid-1980s, the church was restored by Caroe & Partners. Work on the front of the church was finished in 2008.
Churchyard and Park
The churchyard of St. Botolph's was joined with the churchyards of two other churches, St Leonard, Foster Lane and Christchurch, Newgate Street. In 1880, this combined area became Postman's Park.
Today, Postman's Park is home to the Watts Memorial to Historic Self-Sacrifice. This memorial has special tablets that remember ordinary Londoners who died bravely while trying to save others.
The church itself was given a Grade I listed building status on January 4, 1950. This means it's a very important historic building.
How the Church is Used Today
St. Botolph's is a 'Guild Church'. This means it doesn't have a regular local area or Sunday services like most churches. Instead, it holds lunchtime services during the week.
On Sundays, the London City Presbyterian Church uses the building for their worship.
The church is also a place where several orchestras practice their music.
