I walked from the Barbican, past the Museum of London and the memorials to the Wesley brothers’ conversion, then crossed the road to St Botolph’s-without-Aldersgate EC1A 4EU. They have a website at https://www.stbotolphsaldersgate.org.uk/about-us/about-us/, and you can download a history sheet (memo to self, download the sheet before you visit). It is “without Aldersgate” as it stands just to the north of the old City gate.
The first building on this site dates to about 1050, the second was built in the mid C14, survived the Great Fire, but fell into disrepair in the mid C18. It was completely rebuilt between 1789 and 1791, under the direction of two Nathaniels. Nathaniel Wright did the exterior, and Nathaniel Evans the interior. In 1831 the east front was demolished and the building shortened so the road could be widened!
The East window is the only surviving painting on glass in the City of London. Painted by James Pearson in 1788 it shows Jesus’ agony in the garden. The two smaller windows replace ones destroyed in WW2. The ceiling is rather lovely. The organ was built by Samuel Green in 1778.
I liked the smaller windows. Four historical ones – William I conferring the patronage of St Bartholomew’s, James I entering the City in 1618, Henry Compton Bishop of London rescuing Princess Anne at his residence in 1688, and John Wesley preaching at Moorfields in 1738.
Jesus with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Jesus walking on the water, Jesus the good shepherd, appearing to Mary at the resurrection.
Finally a good selection of monuments. The last one has the priorities right.
A police call post outside. Then back to Barbican and I continued round on the Circle to get to Monument.
