St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate — Attraction in London

St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate is a striking classical church on Bishopsgate, one of the only London churches with its tower at the East end. The church is in the Bishopsgate Without area of the City of London, the part of the city that grew up outside of the Bishopsgate in the Roman wall. The route of the Roman wall ran along Wormwood Street to the south of the church. The modern street called Bishopsgate was the Roman road from London to York, Ermine Street. Roman place of worship may have existed here but the first known is the Saxon site discovered during the construction of the current structure. A stone church is recorded on the site in 1212, greatly repaired by Lord Mayor Sir William Allen in 1572. The deliberate destruction of the sexton’s house saved the church from the Great Fire of London in 1666, but by the 18th century the church had fallen into disrepair. The old church was demolished in 1725 and completely rebuilt by James Gould and George Dance in 1729. The East end is dressed stone but the rest of the church is brick. The aisles and galleries are separated from the nave by an arcade of composite columns. The barrel vault roof is pierced by a lantern, installed in 1820 to illuminate the gloomy interior. The font, pulpit and organ all date from the 18th century. The church survived the Blitz largely unscathed, losing only one window. However, the 1993 Bishopsgate Bombing by the IRA destroyed all the doors and windows and ripped open the roof. Three years of restoration followed and the reopening was commemorated in a stunning stained glass window by Nicola...

St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate is a historic church situated just outside the Bishopsgate area of London, known for its striking Norman architecture and rich history dating back to the 11th century. The church features a beautiful tower, intricate wooden ceilings, and ornate stained glass windows, creating a serene atmosphere for visitors. It serves as a place of worship and community engagement, hosting various events and concerts throughout the year. With its unique character and tranquil gardens, St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate offers a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling city, making it a worthwhile visit for anyone exploring London's...

I was really impressed with their animal blessing service (for St Francis, patron saint of animals) - it was well thought out and put together - ie: the choir leading out and singing while the blessing was ongoing - it made it feel quite special and emotional. I attended other animal blessing services in London but this one stood out for how seamless and well-coordinated it felt. You could really sense the care and planning that went into it - and it’s not like it was a busy weekend...