St. Botolph Bishopsgate
The area around Bishopsgate was one of the most prosperous in the City and in the 18th century its parish church of St. Botolph was rebuilt at great expense.
Botolph was an early 7th century Christian who founded a monastery, probably in Suffolk. He became a popular saint during the medieval period as the patron saint of travellers. Four churches dedicated to him were founded at London’s gates where those making journeys to or from London could pray for a safe passage or arrival. Three still survive, at Aldgate, Aldersgate and here at Bishopsgate. The fourth was at Billingsgate for those travelling by boat.
St. Botolph stood immediately north of Bishopsgate, as shown in Civitas Londinum (the ‘Agas map’) from about 1561.
The original church on this site was probably established during Saxon times outside of the city wall on the road leading out north through the Bishop’s Gate. It was rebuilt in 1571 at the expense of Mayor Sir William Allen. The Tudor building survived the Great Fire but was rebuilt by James Gould, son-in-law of the architect George Dance the Elder, and was reopened in 1728. It was rebuilt in red brick in a grand style, as befitted one of the wealthiest areas of 18th century London where many prominent citizens resided. Various alterations and additions have been made since then, including adding a domed cupola over the centre of the nave to give additional light. In 1863 the churchyard was the earliest in the City to be converted into a garden.
St. Botolph’s has a stone-faced tower, with a three-faced clock. The tower is unique amongst City churches in being on the east side above the chancel, fronting onto Bishopsgate. The barrel-vaulted nave is supported on Corinthian columns and there are galleries on three sides.
The church sustained some bomb damage during the Blitz and restorations took place in the late 1940s. It was badly damaged by IRA bombs in 1992 and 1993, forcing it to close for several years. To the side of the church stands its 19th century charity school. The parish of All Hallows London Wall, no longer a parochial church, was united with that of St. Botolph’s.
The Shakespearian-era actor and theatre manager Edward Alleyn, poet John Keats, and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft were all baptised at St. Botolph’s. There is a monument to the wealthy Jacobean wine merchant Sir Paul Pindar who was a local resident.
Sources include:
- Stephen Millar ‘London’s City Churches’
- R.G. Ellen ‘A London Steeplechase’
- Tony Tucker ‘City of London Churches’
