The church is a Grade I listed building
and the entry at the English Heritage website [visit
link] tells us:
"1741 to 44, by G Dance (elder). Aisled body with ritual
west tower (in fact south-east) flanked by low, domed lobbies. Mixed yellow and
red brick with partly painted stone dressings. 2-tiers of windows, segmentally
arched below and round arched with stone dressings above. Central Venetian
Window with larger one to simply gabled east end. Entablature topped by parapet.
Lobbies have pedimented doorways, cornice and blocking with copper roofs to
domes. Tower has arched doorway in pedimented lower stage. Arched and circular
openings above with quoins, strip pilasters etc and cornice topped by carved
urns and spire above with octagonal clock stage. Interior greatly altered by
Bentley in 1889 (?) Widely spaced, Doric colonnade rising from level of gallery
which is supported at west end by small Ionic columns. Rich plaster ceiling with
figures of angels to cove, entirely late C19. Reredos said to be of this date
but with mid C18 characteristics. Plain C18 pulpit. Carved organ case, possibly
1676 or rather later. Good wrought iron altar rails and sword rest. Monuments in
vestibule under tower also plain marble font with good oak
cover."
The church's website [visit link] tells us of the
parish prior to the construction of this church in 1744:
"There has been a church on the site for over 1000
years, with the first Rector, Norman, recorded in 1108. The original Saxon
building was enlarged in 1418 and almost entirely rebuilt in the next century.
This church was demolished as unsafe in 1739.
The tradition of St Botolph’s being an Inclusive church
is longer than we realised. English Heritage have advised us of a special event
that happed in 1618.
‘When Thomas Bone married Sarah Earle in St Botolph,
London in1618 it was an unusual occasion. Thomas, a blacksmith, was a ‘dumbe
person’ and indicated his willingness to marry Sara by making ‘the best signes
he could, to show that he was willing to be maried’. Permission had been given
for the ceremony to go ahead after the Lord Chief Justice had agreed that a
marriage could be solemnised without the vows being spoken by one of the
parties. Thomas Bone therefore gives us the first known English wedding
conducted in sign language.’"
The website [visit link] tells of the
church from 1744 to 1974:
"The present building was finished in 1744. It is the
work of George Dance the Elder, who also built Mansion House, the official home
of the Lord Mayor of London.
Towards the end of the nineteenth century
the interior of the church was remodelled by J F Bentley, architect of the Roman
Catholic Cathedral at Westminster. He made the carved ceiling and added the
decorative plasterwork, created the chancel by adding the side screens, replaced
the gallery fronts with a pierced balustrade and replaced the large box pews
with the present seating. His work survived the bombs which fell on this part of
London during the Second World Wars. In 1941 a bomb pierced the roof near the
organ but failed to explode. Our Rector in those days slept among the coffins in
the Crypt, coming out onto the church roof during air raids to put out
incendiary bombs.
Thanks to our previous architect Mr Rodney Tatchell and
MR J S Comper, the church interior was greatly improved following a fire in
1965, notably by the creation of the Baptistry in the space under the
tower."
And finally [visit link] from 1974 to the
present day:
"The three reredos panels, made in a method of batik
using dye and wax resist were designed by Thetis Blacker in 1982. Using as her
inspiration St John’s account of the Holy City seen through the Gate of Heaven
(Revelation 21) she has placed the Tree of Life in the centre panel. From the
roots of the tree flows the river of Life. The foundations of the city are
coloured according to their stones. In the side panels are angels guarding the
gate, holding Alpha and Omega, symbolising the beginning and the end of
creation. The stoneware ceramic pyx holding the Blessed Sacrament was designed
and made in the shape of a dove by Juliet Pilkington.
For many years the crypt at St Botolph’s was synonymous
with the work for the homeless in the east end. Through the work of the Rector
at the time, Malcolm Johnson, and the Community Theologian, Ken Leech, St
Botolph’s cared for hundreds of people each day, providing food, medical care
and advice. Churches and businesses across the country supported the work. Sadly
this work closed in 2004 and we are now looking at ways we can use the crypt for
community use.
In 1976 the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement was
founded at St Botolph’s and through the 1980s and 1990s St Botolph’s was a safe
space for those who had been excluded from other churches because of their
sexuality. Fortunately in the last decade other churches have become much more
welcoming to LGBT people. The church continues to be a place where LGBT are
welcomed as an integral part of our community.
In July 2005 the church was a place of rest and
refreshment for Emergency Service Personnel following the bomb at Aldgate tube
in which seven people lost their lives."
The church's website [visit link] lists the
regular services held at the church:
"Sundays 10.30
Our main service is on Sunday at 10.30
and lasts around an hour. It is a Sung Eucharist (Mass, Holy Communion, the
Lord’s Supper). We use Common Worship and sing a congregational mass setting and
a responsorial psalm. During term time there is a Sunday School and Creche for
the children.
Tuesdays and Thursdays 13.05
Members of the local
business and resident community join us for our lunchtime services on Tuesday
and Thursday, which take place in the Peace Chapel and last around 25 minutes.
It is a said Eucharist using Common Worship."