St Botolph without Bishopsgate, Middlesex Genealogy

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St Botolph without Bishopsgate, the church of, is situated on the Westside Bishopsgate Street Without and nearly opposite the western end of Houndsditch. The ancient Church of this name was of very ancient foundation, and received its name from the before mentioned Anglo-Saxon Saint, who died about the year 680. The first authentic account of this church is in 1323, when John de Northhampton resigned rectorship which then was and still is in the gift of the Bishop of London. The old church which stood upon the bank of the ancient city ditch escaped the fire of London but became so ruinous that it was taken down in 1726, and rebuilt from the designs of the elder George Dance. Was finished in 1729, and is a spacious, substantial, and well-built structure. The spire is peculiarly handsome, and with that of Shoreditch, by the same architect, among the best since the days of Wren. The east end, which is next the street, is decorated with Doric pilasters, and a large window, with entrance doors at the sides, which excited much criticism at the time of its completion. It arises from the circumstances of necessity of placing the altar always at the east end, which, in this instance deprived the principal front of the advantage of a grand central door. The living is a rectory in the gift of the King and the Bishop of London...

[Adapted from: Topographical Dictionary of London by James Elmes; published 1831]