St Botolph's without Aldgate Church stands at the edge of the City of London. Aldgate was the Eastern gate if the Roman City of Londinium and beyond it in the area around St Botolph's was the Romans' Eastern Cemetery. There has been a church on this site for over a thousand years. The church that we see today was built in 1744.
Inside the church were some interesting memorials. Some of which are written in old English and predate this church.
This was an interesting notice placed in a niche inside the entrance.
The organ at the back of the church is England's oldest working church organ c. 1705. It predates the current church and is attributed to the organ builder Renatus Harris.
You can't see the large stained glass windows behind the altar which is a shame.
This memorial caught my eye with the phrase'dying in want'. Although he had some success in his life with the construction of the first steamboat, a courtcase towards the end of his life meant he died in debt.
This is a painted cartouche recording the gift of an organ to the church in 1676.
This post had a will of its own and I just couldn't put the photos in the order I wanted.
This is truly fabulous as a church. The decorations and wall hangings are just amazing!
ReplyDeletelt is a nice and bright church, unlike many in England. I really like it and it has great history. I hope the organ gets a frequent work out
ReplyDeleteSometimes blogger does mess with the photograph order, it didn't detract from this very interesting post. Such a lovely old Church with great history.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
The wall sculpture of the man with his hands on the skull is brilliant. Do we know who the man was (I can't quite read the writing) or who the artist was?
ReplyDeleteyes I have that problem with loading photos now. That is an amazingly old church and artifacts. Living history.
ReplyDeleteFascinating insights into St. Botolph's Church's history and interior. The "dying in want" memorial is quite poignant.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating place! I love seeing things like this, and am thankful for all your wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteQuite a history for that church.
ReplyDeleteAs a recycled teenager when I look back on my loooong life, I find that all churches look the same. Except the protestant ones, because they are rather naked compared to the catholic churches, where Jesuses are hanging on crosses, stained windows let the sun through or not Mary is holding a skinny or a fat baby in her arms etc. The protestants only have one cross without body, no Mary and no baby. and no Saints of course.
ReplyDeleteSo many interesting details and stories. Apart from religious significance and history, it seems like old churches preserved many details of lives of more ordinary people that would be lost otherwise.
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