The front of the church, that faces onto Bishopsgate, is
constructed from Portland stone and would have looked magnificent back in 1729.
Sadly, the industrial revolution and associated pollution has given the front
facade a slightly dirty look at its lower levels. Higher up the stonework is
still clean. This is a problem that many of the buildings in the City of London
have to contend with. Behind the front facade the rest of the building is
constructed with red brick above stone.
The notice board, outside the church, contains a short history that reads:
"Christian worship has been offered on this site since Roman times. The
Church is first mentioned as 'Sancti Botolfi extra Bishopesgate' in 1212. The
building was repaired in 1571 and partially reconstructed in 1666. It survived
the Great Fire of 1666, but by the early c18 had to be demolished. The present
church, the fourth on this site, was completed in 1729 to the designs of James
Gold, under the supervision of George Dance. Its most modern feature is the
stained glass window commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Bowyers to mark
the recent restoration carried out in 1993-4.
Over the centuries, many famous Londoners have been associated with St Botolph's,
including Sir William Allen, Lord Mayor 1571-2, who repaired the church at his
own expense; Edward Alleyn, founder of Dulwich College, who was baptised here in
1566; Sir Paul Pindar, JamesI's Ambassador to Turkey; and John Keats, baptised
here in 1795.
The church contains the regimental memorial chapel of the Honourable Artillery
Company and the Book of Remembrance of the London Rifle Brigade. The memorial
cross in the churchyard is believed to be the first memorial of the Great War
(1914-1918) to be set up in London, erected in 1916 after the Battle of Jutland."
The church's website advises:
"Christian worship has probably been offered on this site since Roman times.
The original Saxon church, the foundations of which were discovered when the
present church was erected, is first mentioned as ‘Sancti Botolfi Extra
Bishopesgate’ in 1212. Sir William Allen, Lord Mayor (1571-2) who was born and
buried in the parish marked his mayoralty by repairing the Church at his own
expense. Although the church survived the Great Fire of London (1666) St.
Botolph’s had by the early eighteenth century fallen into disrepair and the
decision was made to build a new church. The old church was demolished in 1725,
and the present church, the fourth on this site, was completed in 1729 to the
designs of James Gould, under the supervision of George Dance. It is aisled and
galleried in the classic style, and is unique among the City churches in having
its tower at the East End, with the chancel underneath. The font, pulpit and
organ all date from the eighteenth century.
The parish registers are complete from 1558, and record the burials of many
notable persons, including an infant son of the playwright Ben Jonson. Sir Paul
Pindar (d 1650), James I’s Ambassador to Turkey, was probably the most
celebrated parishioner. His epitaph reads that he was ‘faithful in negotiation,
foreign and domestick, eminent for piety, charity, loyalty and prudence’. (The
magnificent Jacobean facade of Pindar’s Bishopsgate mansion is preserved in the
Victoria and Albert Museum.). The great actor Edward Alleyn, Shakespeare’s
contemporary, and the founder of Dulwich College, was baptised here in 1566 and
the poet John Keats in the present font in 1795.
Several rectors of St. Botolph’s went on to become Bishops of London. William
Rogers, rector 1863-96, was a great social reformer, devoting time and money to
the education and welfare of his poor parishioners, founding the Bishopsgate
Institute, which carries on his ideals to this day. He also took a leading part
in the reconstruction of Dulwich College.
On the ledge of the Gallery around the church are the names of the Rectors of
this parish from 1300 to present day.
The church contains the regimental memorial chapel of the Honourable Artillery
Company, the Book of Remembrance of the London Rifle Brigade, and the most
recent addition, a memorial for those with hæmophilia who have died as a result
of contaminated blood products.
St. Botolph without Bishopsgate may have survived the Great Fire of London
unscathed, and only lost one window in the Second World War, but on 24 April
1993 was one of the many buildings to be damaged by an IRA bomb. The St. Mary
Axe bomb the year before had damaged the exterior joinery and windows, but the
Bishopsgate bomb opened up the roof and left the church without any doors or
windows. The building was classed as a dangerous structure and cordoned-off. The
Rector’s office and Vestry were shattered, causing papers and files to be
scattered all over Bishopsgate. An extensive restoration project followed taking
three and a half years to return the church to its former glory. A Thanksgiving
Service was held in January 1997 to mark its completion at which the Bishop of
London dedicated a new stained glass window which had been commissioned by the
Worshipful Company of Bowyers.
St Botolph’s was the first of the City burial grounds to be converted into a
public garden. At the time, the transformation caused much opposition, but today
it is a much appreciated space by the many who find it a tranquil place to sit,
or by the more athletic who use the adjoining netball and tennis court to let
off steam. Also in the church garden is St. Botolph’s Hall, once used as an
infants’ school, but now a multipurpose church hall available for hire. At its
front entrance is a pair of Coade stone figures of a schoolboy and girl in early
nineteenth century costumes. Nearby is the large tomb of Sir William Rawlins,
Sherriff of London in 1801 and a benefactor of the church. Close to the garden’s
Bishopsgate entrance is a memorial cross. This is believed to be the first
memorial of the Great War to be set up in England, erected in 1916 following the
Battle of Jutland and the death of Lord Kitchener."
Source St
Botolph-without-Bishopsgate website.
The church is a GradeII* listed building. Its entry at
English Heritage reads:
"1725-9, altered considerably. Aisled and galleried nave with tower over
square chancel, flanked by lobbies. East elevation (to Bishopsgate) of Portland
stone with arched window framed by paired Doric pilasters supporting pediment.
Corniced doors on either side connected to windows above. Circular openings over
and cornice topped by balustrade. Tower rises in 3 stages with pilasters, clock
etc and is topped by 4 urns arid a circular lantern, within a balustrade, capped
with ogee dome and carved finial. Other elevations of red brick and Portland
stone, altered in C19. Nave is lower than east end with 2 tiers of windows,
segmentally arched below and round-arched above. Small cornice and parapet. C19
doorway to north and south, latter with enrichment. Centre of west end set
forward with flanking consoles and-Venetian window. Corinthian colonnade on
pedestals to interior, supporting architrave and panelled barrel vault with
enrichment. Coved ceiling to aisles. Panelled front to gallery which is
supported on pair of Ionic columns and piers at west end and has 2 vestries
below. Arch to groin-vaulted chancel with enriched panels to intrados. Pulpit
and organ case (divided into 2) apparently early C18.Circular lantern added to
centre of nave."
Source
English Heritage.