The Archbishops, in consultation with the House of Bishops, have invited every Christian and person of good will to pray at 6pm every day, beginning today, Thursday 5 November, for the period of this present lock-down. In case you would like to join our daily 6pm prayers, I attach a prayer booklet which the Church of England has produced to accompany this initiative. Fr David Download Evening prayer book

We are applying for a Faculty and as usual we need to put a Public Notice up in the Church. Due to the current National Lockdown we are also putting a copy of the public notice here on our website. If you would like more information or have any questions please email Paul at [email protected] View Public Notice

Dear Friend of St Botolph’s, in light of the Government’s decision to reimpose a form of lockdown in England, we have, by necessity revised the form of church services we can offer. With regret, from Thursday 5 November until further notice, and at least until 2 December, we will be unable to celebrate public services in the church. We will be streaming services online only. We will have our 1.10pm Said Mass on Tuesday and our full Choral Mass with sermon

Fr David writes: Next Wednesday, 4 November, we will be marking The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls) with a Choral Requiem Mass (Music: Missa pro defunctis - Anerio), at 1.10 pm in church. The service will also be livestreamed via the website www.botolph.org.uk As usual this service will include a special Act of Commemoration during which the names of the departed will be solemnly read aloud. There is a Requiem Book at the back of church (ask at the office

A good number of parishioners logged in to Zoom from their remote outposts on Monday 19 October to attend the postponed Annual Meetings. Fr David guided the meetings seamlessly through the election of Churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives and Council members (a full list of those elected is posted in church and attached to this report), and the receiving of the usual reports. He contrasted the high level of activity which could be read about in the 2019 Annual Report with

Our postponed Annual Vestry Meeting and Parochial Church Meeting will take place next week on Monday 19 October at 3.00 pm. The meetings will be held via Zoom. To attend, you need to register in advance so that you receive the relevant papers, and the link to the Zoom meeting. If you intend to attend via Zoom, please contact Mhairi at [email protected] and a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to you. I look forward to seeing you virtually next Monday,

The church’s Electoral Roll will be closed for its annual revision between 28 September and 4 October. Anyone who wishes their name to be added to the Roll should download an application form from our website , complete and return the form to Mhairi Ellis at [email protected] by Sunday 27 September. If you are currently on our Electoral Roll there is no need to re-register to remain on it. Download Electoral Roll Form here The postponed Annual Vestry Meeting and Parochial

I hope you have managed to find some refreshing and restful time during the summer. Despite being the start of September, it is still remarkably quiet in the City and we do not expect a significant number of people to return to their offices during the next few months. Here at St Botolph’s we are all well. The church continues to open to the public for private prayer from 12 noon to 3pm each workday. In addition, we hold lunchtime masses