Parish & Ward Church of St. Botolph without Bishopsgate

Welcome to St. Botolph's

Welcome to St. Botolph's
St. Botolph's is a living church set in the heart of the City of London.
We are an Anglican Christian community, a Parish Church of the Church of England, and committed to a welcoming and inclusive ministry in London's financial centre.
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic our opening times and times of masses have changed and continue to be reviewed. At present the church is open for private prayer and as a place of sanctuary every weekday from 12noon to 3.00pm. There is a Choral Mass with sermon at 1.10pm on Wednesdays (lasting around 50 minutes) and Said Masses at 1.10pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (20 minutes)
From whatever religious background you come, from any faith, or from none, please know you are welcome. We encourage you to visit our peaceful and magnificent church to rest, to reflect, or to join us in prayer and find some time with God.

Can you help us financially by direct debit?

During the Lockdown, St Botolph's was closed for three months. Even though we are now open for part of the day, our regular income is obviously taking rather a hit at this time, with the loss of service collections and alms boxes, as well as other normal income streams including hall and tennis and netball court hire. If you are someone who usually gives via the collection basket, and are not in financially difficult circumstances at present, might you consider giving by standing order or direct debit? Contact the Administrator at church@botolph.org.uk for details. One-off donations by PayPal via the link below would also be most welcome.

Donate Via PayPal

From your parish priest, Fr David Armstrong

From your parish priest, Fr David Armstrong
The patron saint of our church is St Botolph, a Benedictine monk and the patron saint of wayfarers. One of the rules of Benedictine monasteries throughout the world is that all guests are to be welcomed as Christ himself, for Christ said: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I work to honour that Benedictine rule in all my ministry at St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate.
St Botolph’s sits just outside (without) what was Bishop’s Gate, one of the gates of the City of London. It was built there as a place of sanctuary for wayfarers and travellers. This tradition of welcoming all without partiality and providing sanctuary to all those in any kind of need is fundamental to our ministry at St Botolph’s.
As the parish priest dedicated to St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate I strive to build on the church’s tradition of welcome. Wherever possible, I make myself available to all who come in need. In the stresses and pressures of the City the parish priest is someone on hand to support and to listen in confidence – you can always tell a priest, because a priest tells no one but God.
I am based in St Botolph’s church and make it my business to meet as many people as possible who live, work or are passing through the parish. If you see me in the street please say hello, if you want to come and see me at the church, my door is open. If you want some peace and sanctuary in the business of the City, St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate is here for you, and all will be welcome as Christ himself.
I look forward to meeting you,
With God’s love and blessing,
Fr David