The Botolphian

Newsletter of
The Society of Saint Botolph

 

The picture of the Icon of Saint Botolph used on this website is copyright © Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA and used by permission.   All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Botolphian, our newsletter page.  Here you will find past newsletters from the Society.  Please click to read.

 

2024 April Newsletter
  • Barrel tombstones
  •  The cluster of Saint Botolph Churches and a Botolph’s bridge in Kent
  • Communications: My friend Colin Nicholson pointed out my error in the last edition of The Botolphian where I referred to Colchester Priory as Colchester Abbey. Mea culpa.
   
2024 February Newsletter
  • St Andrews Fife, with editorial notes about the tradition of ‘droving’ and how it might (or might not) have affected the building of Saint Botolph churches.
   
2023 December Newsletter
  • Whitekirk in East Lothian – a ‘must visit’ for Medieval pilgrims.
  • Herdmanston Chapel – potentially another dedication to Saint Botolph.
   
2023 October Newsletter
  • Lindisfarne and Botolphian connections.
  • SOSB Luncheon 18th October 2023. 12.30 for 1 p.m. at the Hilton City Centre Hotel – two course luncheon £39 per head. We are very low on numbers for this event so please consider supporting it.
   
2023 August Newsletter
  • The Collegiate abbey of St Peter’s at Westminster.
   
2023 June Newsletter
  • Scandinavian Connections
  • Welcome to new members Ria Lacey and Carol Harte from ‘Write by the Sea’ in Folkestone.
   
2023 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone.
  • Please note NOW in your diary 18th October 2023 – Cambridge – 12.30 for 1 p.m. Annual Luncheon of SOSB. Venue to be announced later.
   
2023 February Newsletter
  • The lost church of St Botolph, Sulby, Northamptonshire.
  •  It gives me great pleasure to welcome as a new member, Revd Jonathan Collis, the new rector of Saint Botolph’s Cambridge.
   
2022 December Newsletter
  • Abbey of Faremoutiers-en-Brie, France.
   
2022 August Newsletter
  • Iona Abbey, Argyll, Scotland.
  • Correspondence from 47 people this ‘double month’ – all of which I was delighted to receive; comments were mainly congratulations –regarding the newsletter’s 100th issue, my 80th birthday, St Botolph’s Day, ‘The Flag’ and also a lot of appreciation about the contents of the Ely newsletter. I am glad you enjoyed it, and I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter too.
   
2022 June Newsletter
  • Ely Abbey and Ely Cathedral.
  • This is the 100th issue of The Botolphian.
   
2022 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Burgh, Suffolk.
  • A warm welcome to our new member Revd Katrina Dykes from Burgh.
  • Today is The Botolphian’s 9th birthday.
  • Correspondence: I have received a great deal of correspondence but this was mainly about the Sleep Out which last month was all-pervading. I hope that I have not missed anything important - if so please remind me.
   
2022 February Newsletter
  • Abbey of Bury St Edmunds.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Jenny Bolt (from Selsey in West Sussex) and Professor Graham Ward(Regius Professor of Divinity at Christ Church Oxford).
  •  Correspondence from Jenny Bolt, Peter Godden and Graham Ward.
   
2021 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church and Priory, Colchester.
   
2021 October Newsletter
  • Saint Botolph’s Church, Cambridge.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Ian Styler as a new member.
  • After my ‘apology for lateness’ email I received many delightful and encouraging replies - so many in fact that I was unable to reply to all of them yet… or this issue would have been even later. Many thanks to you all.
   
2021 August Newsletter
  • The development of the market town of Boston in Lincolnshire.
   
2021 June Newsletter
  • Church of Theydon Bois, Essex.
  • Scarning and the Mystery of Spoonbridge by Andy Eagle.
  • Correspondence from John Sennett, Rosemary Hammick, Heather Erguvanli, Nick Molyneux, Father Robert Godding and Jane Hogg.
   
2021 April Newsletter
  • Buttsbury, Essex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: David Lawson from Folkestone; Andy Eagle from Scarning.
  • Correspondence from Roger Joyce (Folkestone), Professor Barbara Yorke (Winchester), Father Pachomius (Brookline USA), Heather Erguvanli Bradenham, Ian Butson (British Sundial Society), John Sennett (Swyncombe), Andy Eagle (Scarning) and Neil Wright (Boston, Lincs).
   
2021 February Newsletter
  • Church of St. Botolph’s, Bradenham, Buckinghamshire.
  • It gives me much pleasure to welcome Revd Jenny Ellis from Bradenham as a new member.
  • Correspondence from: Marion Peel, Natasha Kerrigan, John Sennett, Graham Jones, Father Pachomius and many others.
  • Sad news of the passing of David Gallimore.
   
2020 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Chapel, St Andrews, Fife and Scotland in general.
  • Correspondence from Anne Pegg, John Sennett and Tony Connolly.
   
2020 November Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph, Swyncombe, Oxfordshire.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome as a new member Mark Fletcher from Islemere in Cambridgeshire.
  • Correspondence from Revd Paula Griffiths concerning the millennium celebrations at St Botolph’s, Hadstock.
   
2020 October Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s, Broome.
  • Correspondence from John Sennett, Nick Molyneux, Marcia Barton, and Graham Jones.
   
2020 September Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s, Shenley, Hertfordshire – now a private residence.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Revd Edward Rochead as a new member. Edward lives in Eastleigh in Hampshire. but hails from Suffolk and is a friend of our president Father Tim L’Estrange.
   
2020 August Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph, Northfleet (3)
  • Correspondence from Father Stephen Anderson, Robert Beavis, Duncan Hopkin, Joanna Comer, Marcia Barton, Revd Paul Wilkinson, Graham Higgs
   
2020 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Chevening, Kent update.
  • Welcome to new members: Nick Molyneux from Nottingham; Graham Higgs from Chevening and Robert Hodges from Chevening.
  • Readers’ emails from Emma Rose Barber; Anne Pegg; Anne Dickinson; Patricia Croxton-Smith; John Burnapp; Michael Knights; Revd Margaret Widdess and many other greetings.
   
2020 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Northfleet, Kent.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome as new members: Rosemary Feuell from Cambridge; Wendy Waller from St Botolph’s, Northfleet, Kent and James Ratcliffe from St Botolph’s Allerthorpe, Yorkshire.
  • Correspondence from Tony Connolly, Jane Micklethwaite and many others.
   
2020 May Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s, Norwich.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Sarah Bristow from Folkestone, John Holmes from Katy, Texas, USA, Gerard Babendreier from Rockville, Maryland, USA and Peter Godden from Folkestone as new members: Correspondence from Lyn Stilgoe, Canon Stuart Morris, Tony Connolly, John Sennett, Anne Dickinson, Andrew Kelly, John Holmes and many others.
   
2020 April Newsletter
  • The Wall Paintings of St Botolph’s Church at Hardham in West Sussex.
  • It was seven years ago that I published the first issue of The Botolphian and so, having dropped a couple on the way, we have now reached Number 83.   You will notice that this issue is slightly different - and you will find the explanation for that whilst reading it.
  • I have been thinking about this October's Annual Botolphian Luncheon in Cambridge - but that is the limit of my involvement at the moment.   If the 'All Clear' sounds closer to the time I shall convert my thinking to action.

   
2020 March Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s Barton Seagrave, Northamptonshire
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Pam Petley from Stamford North in Kent as a new member.
  • Correspondence from Graham Jones, Tim Monsour, Marcia Barton and Revd Paul Wilkinson.
   
2020 February Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Chapel, Folkestone.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Tony Quarrington (Folkestone) as a new member.
  • Correspondence from Graham Jones, Charles Evans, Paul Kemsley and Robert Beavis.
   
2020 January Newsletter
  • Church of Hardham, West Sussex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to the following new members: Revd Kathryn Evans - the new curate at Church with Chapel Brampton and Father Peter Mallinson at St Botolph’s Hardham.
  • Correspondence from Marion Peel, Michael Knights and Revd William Howard.
   
2019 December Newsletter
  • The lost St Botolph chapel of Scarning, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Douglas Perkins, Colin Tulfer, David March, Bernard Mee, Brian Moss, John Evans and John Goodsell - all from Maidstone in Kent. I also welcome the return of Harriet Enholme from Finland.
  • Correspondence from Jean Gibran from Boston USA and from Revd Paula Griffiths from sb Hadstock.
   
2019 November Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s, Botolphs, West Sussex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: June Kennard, Rachel Reed and Stuart Stevens from Botolphs, West Sussex. Tessa Ivory, Bev Parsons, Paddy Yule and our Mayor, Jackie Meade - all from Folkestone.
  • Correspondence from Anne Dickinson, Father Pachomius, Janet Havers, Revd Paula Griffiths and Jean Gibran.
   
2019 October Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s house Steynton, Dyfed.
  • St Botolph’s Green, Leominster, Herefordshire.
  • Summary of St Botolph in the west.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Giles Story from London and Sean Wilkinson from Dayton, Ohio - at present in Britain visiting Norfolk churches.
   
2019 September Newsletter
  • St Mary’s Church, Hanley Castle, Worcestershire.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Tina Watson from Lullingstone as a new member. She will be taking over (as their church’s representative) from Revd Gary Owen who is leaving the parish (see Correspondence).
  • Correspondence from Gary Owen and Patricia Croxton-Smith.
  • URGENT NOTICE: The Annual Luncheon will be held at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hotel on Weds 23 October at 12.30 for 1 p.m. The cost will be £30 per head which includes a ‘welcoming Prosecco.’
   
2019 August Newsletter
  • Much Wenlock Abbey, Shropshire.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Mara Collura from Licata, Sicily, Richard Anderson-Dungar from Banningham Norfolk.
  • Correspondence from: Christine Hayes, Anne Dickinson, Revd Paula Griffiths, David Gallimore, John Sennett, Dorothy Halfhide, Richard Anderson-Dungar and Father Pachomius.
  • Can I recommend that when reading The Botolphian directly from your computer, you click the VIEW tag and, under Zoom, select the largest magnification your screen will take (i.e. somewhere between 175% and 200%?). This makes the pictures look so much better.
  • The Annual Luncheon will be held at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hotel on Weds 23 October at 12.30 for 1 p.m. The cost will be £30 per head which includes a ‘welcoming Prosecco.’
   
2019 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Hadstock, Essex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the Revd Dr John Rawlinson (from Stow Longa) as a new member.
  • Correspondence from Duncan Hopkin, Marcia Barton, Peter Van Demark, Ann Pegg and our President FT.
  • Congratulations to our President, Father Tim L’Estrange who has just celebrated 30 years since his ordination.
  • The date of the Society’s annual luncheon at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre Hotel is Wednesday 23rd October 2019 at 12.30 for 1 p.m. on the hotel’s first floor in our usual venue - now called Section 3 of the Bull and Bass restaurant. I have not received the prices yet but it is likely to be about £30 a head. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are likely to be joining us so that I can pencil in your name with a view to your confirming later.
   
2019 June Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate, London
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Lynne Ballew (Maine USA/Felixtowe UK): Heather Erguvanli from High Wycombe; Ben Cottam from Folkestone.
  • Correspondence from Janet Havers, Anne Dickinson, Gillian Ridout, Revd David Murdoch, Marcia Barton,, Revd Paula Griffiths, Mhairi Ellis, Revd Canon Cynthia Hebden and (belatedly - see below) Christopher Micklethwaite.
   
2019 April Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph’s, Billingsgate.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: David Coble from Shepshed; David Wilkinson, Beverley Willis, Matthew Tottle, Jeff Hall, John Williams, Martin Lukehurst and John Fisher - all from Sittingbourne; Thomas Smith from Bristol, Tennessee, USA; Andrew Kelly from Ramsgate.
  • Correspondence from Richard Harbord shedding light on the mystery of the location of St Botolph’s Chapel at Tuttington; also from Roger Cordey at Morley St Botolph’s.
   
2019 March Newsletter
  • St Botolph-without-Aldersgate
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Nanouschka Burstrom from Stockholm University; Father David Armstrong from St Botolph without Bishopsgate; Robert Cronin (member of the FE research group) from Hythe; Maureen Jordan (associate of the FE research group)
  • Correspondence from Revd Margaret McPhee; Revd Paula Griffiths; Margaret Gornall; Roy Tricker; Colin Setchfield; Revd Mary Sokanovic.
   
2019 February Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph without Aldgate.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Rosemary Hammick, Tina and Andrew Whibley (all from Aldgate); Gabrielle (from Germany).
  • Correspondence from Matthew Harffy, Anne Pegg and Marion Peel.
   
2019 January Newsletter
  • Ruins of St Botolph’s church, Shotesham, Norfolk.
  • Correspondence from David Noy and Harriet Enholm.
   
2018 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Newton.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following as new members: Revd Jenny Seggar from Bramford near Ipswich and Revd Nick Munday from Newton, Lincolnshire.
  • Correspondence from Duncan Hopkin, Dick & Daphne Pascoe, Revd Jenny Seggar and Joanna Comer.
   
2018 November Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Helpston.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Jan Clarke (Folkestone); Jeff Gough; Natasha Kerrigan (Folkestone).
  • Correspondence from Peter Horsefield from Trunch in Norfolk.
  • The date for the 1919 Annual Luncheon at Cambridge is WEDNESDAY 23rd OCTOBER - please put it in your diaries now.
   
2018 October Newsletter
  • Church of St Botolph by Bargate, Lincoln.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Revd James Watson from Harrington, Sandra Bierman from Folkestone and Nicola Tolson, also from Folkestone.
  • Correspondence from Betty West, Heather Flack and Colin Potter.
  • It is not too late to join us at the society’s Annual Luncheon at the Hilton City Hotel in Cambridge at 12.30 for 1 p.m. on Wednesday 24th October 2018. Cost is only £30 per head for a three course meal including tea and coffee and a Welcome-glass of Prosecco.
    I have received a few gripes that two month’s notice is insufficient so please note: Next year, the luncheon is booked for Wednesday 23rd October 2019.
   
2018 September Newsletter
  • Church of St Peter and St Paul (ex-St Botolph), Harrington, Northants.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome as new members: Betty West, Sally Brookshaw and Revd James Watson from Harrington; Antonella Delucchi from Turin, Italy and Marti Stewart from Paris: Revd Jackie Bullen and Jane Hogg - both from St Botolph’s Longthorpe; Judy Doherty from Folkestone.
  • Correspondence from Mhairi Ellis, Jane Hogg, David Buxton, Sylvia and Edward Robertson and The Francigena Society.
  • Please join us at the society’s Annual Luncheon at the Hilton City Hotel in Cambridge at 12.30 for 1 p.m. on Wednesday 24th October. Further details will follow in a separate email.
  • If you fancy a trip to Folkestone this Wednesday 5th September please come along to St Eanswythe’s Church at CT20 1SW at 6.30 p.m. for my talk “Princess Eanswythe and Brother Botolph.”
   
2018 August Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Stoke Albany, Northants.
  • Correspondence from Graham Jones, Philip Spencer and John McConnell.
  • Please make a note in your diaries of the society’s ANNUAL LUNCHEON which will be held at the usual venue in Cambridge on Wednesday 24th October 2018 at 12.30 for 1 p.m.
   
2018 July Newsletter
  • Longthorpe Church, Cambs. and Botolph Bridge, Cambs.
  • As you will see this issue heralds the rise of the St Botolph’s church count by three with the additions of: Thorpe, Botolph Bridge and St Peter at Gowt with St Botolph by Bargate, Lincoln. More new sites than new members this month!
  • Hymns For Saint Botolph's Day
   
2018 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Graveley, Cambridgeshire.
  • Patronal Festivals: You will already have received details in a supplementary email of those being held at Church with Chapel Brampton, Bishopsgate, Aldgate and Hadstock. At the end of this newsletter in the correspondence section there are further notices from Father Stephen Anderson of Cambridge; Christine Hayes of Stow Longa, Cambridgeshire; Revd Laura McPhee of Hevingham, Norfolk with notices of their churches Patronal Festivals.
  • There is also correspondence from Dr David Noy, Dr Lesley Hardy, Mo Edwards, Mhairi Ellis, David Buxton and James Evans.
   
2018 May Newsletter
  • St Andrew’s Church Hasketon, Suffolk.
  • I am delighted to welcome two newmembers to the society, namely KatherineMalin from Stoke Albany and Judith Finfrom Newton.
  • Correspondence from Joanna Comer,Heather Flack, Patricia Croxton-Smith,Graham Jones and Mike Brintley.
   
2018 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Ruxley, Kent.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Pat Cocks, Gail Rogers, Sandra Marjanovic, Vincent Williams and David Baker as new members.
  • Correspondence from Patricia Croxton-Smith, Paul Kemsley and Kathleen Tyson.
   
2018 March Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Stow Longa, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Christine Hayes, Dorothy Halfhide and Michael Bintley to membership of the society.
  • Correspondence from Dorothy Halfhide, AnnePegg, Phillip Buttolph, Andree Sladden, Patricia Croxton-Smith, Sue Jones, Peter Holliday and Robert Walker.
   
2018 February Newsletter
  •  The Abbey Church of St Mary and St Botolph, Thorney, Cambridgeshire.
  •  It gives me great pleasure to welcome John Bartlett from Thorney and David Noble from Folkestone as new members.
  •  Correspondence from Patricia Croxton- Smith, Marcia Barton, Phillip Buttolph, Arch Horst, Emma Rose Barber and Joan Blows.
   
2018 January Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Beauchamp Roding, plus short features on Theydon Bois and Buttsbury - all in Essex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Wendy MacBrown (Folkestone) as a new member.
  • Correspondence from John Sennett (Swyncombe); Michael Stainer (Folkestone); Anne Dickinson (Burton Hastings) and Paul, Diane and Jackie.
   
2017 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Heene, West Sussex.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following members: Matthew Harffy (Wiltshire), Father Robert Godding (Société des Bollandistes, Brussels).
  • Correspondence from Duncan Hopkin, Peter Van Demark, Carole Kner, Hannah Weisman and Matthew Harffy.
   
2017 November Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Frosterley, Durham.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following members who joined the society during my lecture tour of Saint Botolph’s American home, Boston Massachusetts:
    FROM BOSTON (USA): Sean Kelly, Priscilla Deck, William Taylor, Jeremy & Amy de Rham, Arch Horst, Lisa Connors, Mark Churchill, Ruth Carey, Timothy Carey, Michael Halperson, Colby Andrus, Alice Andrus, Frederick Meyer, Rev Dr Howard Hunter, Jean Gibran, Wendy Hale.
    FROM BURLINGTON (USA): John Tuccardi, Susan Stewart, Christine McCarthy, Albert Fay, Daniel Brenneke, Beverlee Vidoli, Paul Mitchell, Roger Bell, Don Bernstein, Rose Minitex.
    FROM CHELSEA (USA): David Mindlin, Mitch Michaud, Bill Zamparelli, Maureen Foley, Sue Gallant, Jeannette McWilliams, Douglas Mauch, Rick Cernow, Joseph Panetta.
    FROM DEVIZES (UK) Mo and Mike Edwards.
  • Correspondence from Judith Everitt, Anne Dickinson, Heather Flack, Revd Mary Sokanovic, Jane Wheeler, Mo Edwards, Guy Hartfall and Paul Kemsley.
   
2017 October Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Bale, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Marcia Barton from St Botolph’s Church, Chevening in Kent as a new member.
  • Correspondence from Revd Roger Smith, John Sennett and Guy Hartfall.
   
2017 September Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Botesdale, Suffolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Father Stephen Anderson (Priest-in-charge at St Botolph’s Cambridge); Jackie Didymus from St Botolph’s Church at Heene in Sussex.
  • Correspondence from Peter van Demark, Giles Clapp, John McConnell, Ray Theakston, Gillian Machorton and David Gallimore.
   
2017 August Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Boston, Lincs.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Harriet and Gustaf Enholm (from Helsinki) as new members.
  • Other than a few emails of good wishes (which I am always delighted to receive) there has been no significant correspondence this month.
   
2017 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Stow Bedon, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome Martyn Lockwood as a new member.
  • Correspondence from John Burnapp, Mhairi Ellis, Jane Davies and Revd Colin Reed.
   
2017 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Tuttington, Norfolk.
  • Welcome to new members Andra and David Papworth from Tuttington.
  • Correspondence from David Gallimore.
   
2017 May Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, North Cove, Suffolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Revd Jeff Payne (Carlton-in-Cleveland); Natasha Kerrigan (Cheriton; Andrew Melen (Sibson).
  • Correspondence from Anne Dickinson, Revd Lawrence Smith, Terry Catchpole, Revd Kathy Couchman, Andree Sladden and Heather Flack.
  • Please note in your diaries that this year’s Annual luncheon in Cambridge (venue to be announced) will still be at 12.30 for 1 p.m. but a few days earlier than usual on:  Wednesday 4th October 2017
   
2017 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Limpenhoe, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Dr Lesley Hardy (Canterbury); Dr Angela Conyers (Folkestone); Carla Reeks (Folkestone).
  • Correspondence from Graham Jones, Heather Flack, John Sennett, Emma Rose Barber, Roger Cordey, Rose Doherty and John Burnapp.
  • Please note in your diaries that this year’s Annual luncheon in Cambridge (venue to be announced) will still be at 12.30 for 1 p.m. but a few days earlier than usual on: Wednesday 4th October 2017
   
2017 March Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Morley St Botolph, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Veronica Wall, Marion Dunster and Revd Bob Weldon (all from Folkestone); Dr Ingrid Dodd and Dr John Stevens (both from the Dover area); Revd Colin Reed (Morley St Botolph); Leighton Williams (Norwich).
  • Correspondence from Janet Havers, Graham Jones, Patricia Croxton-Smith and Sam Newton.
  • Please note in your diaries that this year’s Annual luncheon in Cambridge (venue to be announced) will still be at 12.30 for 1 p.m. but a few days earlier than usual on: Wednesday 4th October 2017
   
2017 February Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Barford, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Denyse Dawson (Parish Office, Shepshed); Jean Westacott (St Botolph’s Chevening, Kent); Diana and Norman Ling (Newcastle).
  • Correspondence from Tony Connolly, John Sennett, Gillian Machorton, Jonathon Brackenbury, Linda Clark, Guy Hartfall and Derek Commings.
   
2017 January Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Hevingham, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Deirdre Barnes (Hythe, Kent); Linda Clark (Hevingham); Revd Margaret McPhee (Hevingham); Shirley Mather (Hevingham).
  • Correspondence from Revd William Howard, John McConnell, Heather Flack, Peter Horsefield, Anne Dickinson, Guy Hartfall and Kathleen Tyson.
2016 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Westwick, Norfolk.
  • It gives me great pleasure to welcome the following new members: Peter Horsefield from Trunch, Norfolk; Derek Boughton from Elham, Kent; Bishop Trevor Willmott from Dover; Revd Mark Thomson and Jan and David Pursell – all from Quarrington, Lincolnshire.
  • Correspondence from Revd Sally Hughes, Rose Doherty, Patricia Croxton-Smith, John Sennett, Roger Howlett, Peter Van Demark and Peter Horsefield.
2016 November Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Banningham, Norfolk.
  • I am delighted to welcome as new members: the Curator of Saffron Waldon Museum, Carolyn Wingfield: Revd Gill Calver (Folkestone); Heather Flack (Worcester) – author of a recently published book on Edmund Ironside (which I have both read and enjoyed); Rose Doherty (USA - President, Partnership of Historic Bostons); Dr Hugh Robertson-Ritchie (Folkestone).
  • Correspondence from Bruce Bailey regarding Pevsner Northamptonshire; William Hunt, the Windsor Herald of Arms.
   
2016 October Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Trunch, Norfolk.
  • Welcome to new member Roy Tricker from Suffolk.
  • Correspondence from Roy Tricker.
   
2016 September Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Whitton, Suffolk
  • Welcome to new members, Frank Mahon (Folkestone), Chris Sanham (Norwich), Revd Keith Dally (Banningham, Norfolk); Sue Muspratt (Hevingham, Norfolk), Nick Hartley (Scarning, Norfolk), Saskia Elson (Westwick, Norfolk); Brigadier Adam and Gillian Gurdon (Burgh, Suffolk); Revd Chris Norburn (Botesdale, Suffolk): Jill Ridout (Banningham, Norfolk); Betty and Alan Jackson (Westwick, Norfolk); Ernie and Jean Garland (Trunch, Norfolk); Judith Everitt (Bale, Norfolk); Janet Havers (Barford, Norfolk); Roger Cordey (Morely St Botolph, Norfolk); Sid Kettle (Tuttington, Norfolk); Gillian Machorton (Stow Bedon, Norfolk); Peter and Anji Sprinks (Folkestone); Michael Brook (Limpenhoe, Norfolk);
  • Correspondence from Dr Clive Talbot, Tony Connolly and Graham Jones.
   
2016 August Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church Thurleston, Suffolk, including some details of its link with the church at Whitton.
  • Welcome to new members, Michael Lonsdale from Iken. Angela and Gerald Marjoram from Whitton. Revd Mary Sokanovic from Whitton.
  • Correspondence from Marion Peel, Graham Jones, Arnaud Le Fèvre, Robert Beavis and Christopher Conn.
   
2016 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Saxilby, Lincolnshire.
  • Welcome to new members, Gerry and Brian Dandridge from Hassocks, Sussex; David Turner, churchwarden of Saxilby; Tom and Diane from Lefkas, Greece;
  • Correspondence from Graham Jones; St Botolph’s Hadstock; Revd Paul Griffiths; Christopher Micklethwaite and Christopher Whittle …and many others with St Botolph’s Day greetings.
   
2016 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Upwell, Norfolk.
  • Emails from Father Pachomius: Diarmaid MacCulloch; Revd William Howard; Revd Paula Griffiths and Mhairi Ellis.
  • Please note in your diaries that the Third Annual Luncheon of the Society will be held at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre (this is the new name for the same hotel that we have been using for the past three years) on Wednesday 12 October 2016 at 1230 for 1 p.m. Your after-dinner speaker this year will be ‘yours truly’ when I shall be giving a presentation entitled ‘The Riddles of Saint Botolph, his brother and the Abbey of Icanho.’
  • I have felt that the flow of previous Annual Luncheons has been somewhat disturbed by the way we choose our two courses. Some people chose starters and main and some chose main and dessert and others chose to have all three. This year therefore you will be able to choose to have two courses without dessert or all three courses. Tea or coffee will be included but drinks will be ordered and paid for separately. There will be a small service charge included in the price. I will endeavour to keep the costs down as much as possible – the hotel tell me they will be able to accommodate us at similar prices to last year. The hotel is at present preparing new menus and I will announce these and let you know the costs in the July newsletter.
  • I would be grateful however if you would let me know as soon as possible if you are likely to attend.
   
2016 May Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Shingham, Norfolk.
  • Welcome to new members: Rosemary and Clive Talbot from Headcorn, Kent; Paul Bingham from Folkestone; Jenny Croft from Folkestone; Philip Spencer from Beachamwell; David Mason from Beachamwell. Email addresses now stand at 293 and membership at about 370.
  • Emails from Marion Peel, Guy Hartfall, Father Pachomius, Jean Stone, Hilary Tolputt, Penny Coggill, Anne Pegg, Chris Conn and Anne Dickinson.
  • Please note in your diaries that the Third Annual Luncheon of the Society will be held in Cambridge on Wednesday 12 October 2016.
   
2016 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Allerthorpe, Yorks.
  • Welcome to new members: Michael Burtonshaw from Folkestone. Email addresses now stand at 289 and (re-audited) membership at 364).
  • Emails from Patricia Croxton-Smith, Colin Potter, Buell Hollister, Hal Annett and Lyn Stilgoe.
  • Please note in your diaries that the Third Annual Luncheon of the Society will be held in Cambridge on Wednesday 12 October 2016.
   
2016 March Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Bossall, Yorks.
  • Welcome to new members: Hal and Deborah Annett from Canada; Ian Butson from Colchester; Lyn Stilgoe from King’s Lynn (both the latter are from the British Sundial Society); Dr Arnaud LeFèvre of Bayeux, France; Revd Chris Wingfield from Bossall. Email addresses now stand at 288 and (re-audited) membership at 358).
  • Emails from (amongst others) Jim Olson, Joe Bain, Roger Howlett, Steve Williamson, Ann Pegg, Tony Wood, Arnaud LeFèvre, Patricia Croxton-Smith, Ray Theakston and ... a telephone conversation with Revd Chris Wingfield.
   
2016 February Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Tottenhill, Norfolk.
  • Welcome to new members: Bill Flavell (Folkestone), Beatrice Auger (Folkestone), Canon Stuart Morris (Tottenhill). Email addresses now stand at 283 and (re-audited) membership at 356.
  • Emails from Patricia Croxton-Smith, Joe Bain, Colin Nicholson and Duncan Hopkin.
   
2016 January Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Horsehouse, North Yorkshire.
  • Emails from Revd William Howard, Angela Kemsley, Joanna Comer, John Sennett, Emma Rose Barber, Graham Jones, Nick Astbury, Arthur Davies, Christina Dykes and Revd Sam Funnell.
   
2015 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church, Carlton-in-Cleveland, North Yorkshire.
  • Welcome to new members: Michael Stainer (Folkestone); Emma Pepper (Headmistress St Botolph’s Primary School, Shepshed).
  • Emails from Revd Margaret Widdess, Guy Hartfall, Anne Pegg, Phillip Buttolph and Emma Pepper.
   
2015 November Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church Sibson, Leicestershire.
  • Welcome to new members: Steve Williamson (Grimston); Arthur Davies (Colchester); Diane LeMare and Paul Wadey (Heene); Margaret Gornall (Culpho); Colin Potter and Justin Scale (Pembrokeshire); Chris Francis (Folkestone). Email addresses now stand at 278 and (re-audited) membership at 353.
  • Emails from. Guy Hartfall re Queen’s foundation & reply from Joanna Comer. Information from Diane LeMare about the rescue of Heene church. Correspondence with Graham Jones, Colin Potter and Justin Scale about an obscure St Botolph’s Chapel in Pembrokeshire.
   
2015 October Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Leicestershire.
  • Welcome to new members: Revd Andrew Richardson (St Botolph’s, London, Aldgate) who is acting as chaplain whilst Laura Jorgensen is on maternity leave.
  • Emails from Father Pachomius, Joanna and George Comer, Revd David Murdoch, Michael Hale, Peter Van Demark and Kathleen Tyson Quah.
  • IT IS STILL NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US FOR THE SOSB ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY HOTEL AT 12.30 for 1 p.m. at £25 which includes two courses and tea or coffee. FINAL CLOSING DATE Saturday 3 October.
   
2015 September Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Shepshed, Leics.
  • Welcome to new members: Revd Linda Shipp (St Botolph’s Carlton-in-Cleveland); Richard Daniels (Folkestone); Lynn Graham; Ray Broom (Church with Chapel Brampton); Revd Celia Cook (newly-appointed vicar at Culpho); Nigel North and his mother Joan (Folkestone); Helen and Richard Monk (Folkestone - Many years ago they were married at St Botolph’s church Chevening, Kent). Our numbers are still gradually rising and we now have 272 email addresses on our list and this represents over 420 members.
  • Welcome to a NEWLY-DISCOVERED BOTOLPH CHURCH - (it is not often we have one of these) - but I have found evidence of a St Botolph’s chapel AND another Botolph’s Bridge - both at Bury St Edmunds.
  • SOSB ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY HOTEL AT 12.30 for 1 p.m. at £25 per head which includes two courses and tea or coffee. PLEASE JOIN US IF YOU CAN - PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
  • A separate email will be sent to the ‘Annual Luncheoners’ shortly.
  • I can now announce that the speaker at our luncheon will be Derek Cummings who will be talking on the ‘Mystery of the Sanctuary Seeker’.
  • Following the luncheon, Derek has kindly organised the services of a Blue Badge Guide (Sue Payne) who will be taking us on a brief tour of St Botolph’s and St Bene’t’s churches.
   
2015 August Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church Newbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire.
  • Emails from Tony Wood, Jean Stone, Aaron Friar, Mark Tattum-Smith, Anne Dickinson and Kathleen Tyson.
  • SOSB ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY HOTEL AT 12.30 for 1 p.m. I have negotiated a price of £25 which includes two courses and tea or coffee.
   
2015 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s church Burton Hastings.
  • I am delighted to welcome a new member Molly Kady from Nash in Buckinghamshire, who found us ‘on the web’.
  • Emails from Dick Pascoe, Duncan Hopkin, John Sennett, Mary Jackson, Patricia Croxton-Smith, Kathleen Tyson, Lorna Brabin-Smith and Peter Coleman.
  • SOSB ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY HOTEL AT 12.30 for 1 p.m. I have negotiated a price of £25 which includes two courses and tea or coffee. There will be an after-luncheon speaker. Please contact me and let me know that you are coming to join us.
   
2015 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s at Church with Chapel Brampton, Northants.
  • I am delighted to welcome new members Christopher and Jeannie Esdaile from St Botolph’s Church, Hardham, West Sussex.
  • Emails from John Sennett, Kathleen Tyson Quah and Mark Tattum-Smith together with many helpful indications of likely attendance at the ...
  • SOSB ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON TUESDAY 13th OCTOBER 2015 AT THE CAMBRIDGE CITY HOTEL AT 12.30 for 1 p.m. (Thanks to Marion Peel and Rob who pointed out that I had the date correct but the day wrong in the last issue).
   
2015 May Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Slapton.
  • I am delighted to welcome as new members, Tony Wood (of the British Sundial Society) and John MacIntosh from Slapton.
  • Emails from Peter van Demark, Derek Cummings and Guy Hartfall
  • DATE FOR ANNUAL LUNCHEON IN CAMBRIDGE: TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2015.
   
2015 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Knottingley, Yorks.
  • I am delighted to welcome the following new members: Revd Lorna Brabin-Smith and Beryl Preston (Vicar and Churchwarden from Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake); Sigrid Duly (Sandgate, Kent); Andrew Young, Stuart and Amanda Bell, Linda Humphreys and Barbara Smith (all from Slapton, Northants); Joan and Roger Moreton (Sibson, Leics.); Revd Dr Ed Bampton (Shepshed, Leics.). This brings our total email numbers to 265 which represents a membership of over 400.
  • Emails from Father Pachomius, Graham Jones, John Sennett.
  • Please Note: This year’s Annual Luncheon will be held at the Cambridge City Hotel at 12.30 for 1 p.m. on TUESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2015.
   
2015 March Newsletter

  • St Botolph’s Church, Lullingstone.
  • Welcome to new members: George & Sue Vittay (Charing, Kent), Valerie Sadler (Coggeshall, Essex), Dorothy Latham (Dymchurch, Kent).
  • Readers’ emails from Tony Connolly and Dick Pascoe.
  • Dates of my proposed visits to Ratcliffe, Shepshed, Sibson, Burton Hastings, Newbold, CwC Brampton and Slapton.
   
2015 February Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Chevening.
  • Welcome to new members: Caroline Coke from St Botolph’s Church, Slapton, and Peter Jackson from St Botolph’s Church, Barton Seagrave.
  • Readers’ emails from James Harris, Kathleen Tyson Quah, Derek Cummings Robert Beavis and Caroline Coke, together with a host of kind greetings.
   
2015 January Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Colchester.
   
2014 November Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Burgh.
  • Welcome to our new members: David and Ronnie Gallimore.
   
2014 October Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Culpho.
  • Welcome to new members: Dr John and Mrs Juliet Broadfield. Edward and Sylvia Robertson.
  • The Annual Luncheon of the society will be held at 12.30 for 1 p.m. on Tuesday 14th October at Cambridge City Hotel. If you have not already booked then I am afraid you are too late this year but mark mid-October in your diary ready for next year. The final number this year was an excellent 29.
   
2014 September Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Iken
  • Welcome to new members: James Harris, Kenneth Crofton Martin, Dawn Hopley, Claire Down, Tim and Heidi Monsour, Tom and Jen Monsour, John Haydon and Pamela Mason.
   
2014 August Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Farnborough.
  • Letter and photographs from Peter Van Demark and The Saint Botolph’s Club, Boston USA.
  • Welcome to Tony Connolly, John Burnapp, Frances Melville-Brown and William Hartfall.
  • FOR YOUR DIARIES NOW PLEASE Tuesday 14th October 2014 at Cambridge City Hotel, Cambridge, 12.30 for 1 p.m. SOSB Annual Luncheon.
   
2014 July Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Croxton Kerrial.
  • Correspondence and article from Peter Coleman, Boston, Lincs.
  • Email from Graham Jones answering most of the questions about Wardley.
  • Thanks to Angélique’s hard work the map of St Botolph churches on the www.botolph.info website is now working properly again.
  • Volume II of my Botolph Trilogy (Brother Botolph and The Abbess) will be launched on 9th August at 11 a.m. at The Grand Hotel, The Leas, Folkestone where all from SOSB and their friends are invited to join us for ‘drinks and nibbles’. For catering purposes please send a short email here by 2nd August to let me know you are coming.
  • Please note the change of date of the Annual Luncheon which is now on TUESDAY 14 October 2014 and will be held at the Cambridge City Hotel at 12.30 for 1 p.m.
   
2014 June Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Wardley.
  • Correspondence from Jean Stone, Jane Davies, Peter Van Demark, Robin Betser, Mark Tattum-Smith and Peter Buttle.
  • Welcome to Christopher Whittle, Rowena Bass, Adrian and Anna Biggs and Fiona Russell-Perry.
  • Annual Luncheon 15 October 2014.
   
2014 May Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Aspley Guise, Beds.
  • Correspondence from Dick Pascoe, Revd Dr James Olson, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Joe Bain and Peter Van Demark.
  • Welcome to 9 new members.
   
2014 April Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Bradenham.
  • Correspondence from Jean Stone, Emma Rose Barber, Derek Cummings, John Sennett and Roger Howlett as well as other emails of greeting and support.
  • R.C.Beavis’s article on ‘Barber’s Point’.
   
2014 March Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Grimston, Norfolk.
  • Botolph and the two princesses.
  • Correspondence from Patricia Croxton-Smith, Ann Levy, John Sennett, Simon Schanschieff, Emma Rose Barber and Robert Beavis.
  • Thanks to Nigel Lacey and David Noy.
  • Welcome to 4 new members.
   
2014 February Newsletter
  • St Botolph’s Church, Eastwick, Herts.
  • The people Botolph might have met in Francia.
  • Correspondence from David Noy, William Howard, Dick Pascoe, Robert Beavis, Jean Stone and Robin Betser.
  • Welcome to 5 new members.
   
2014 January Newsletter
  • Christmas activities.
  • The bad news of the Boston, Lincolnshire flood and the good news that a new Team Rector will be installed in February.
  • St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe.
  • Botolph's destination in France.
  • Correspondence from Alex Pavitt, Jean Mableson, Alison Boreham, Joe Bain and Christopher Micklethwaite.
  • Welcome to 13 new members.
   
2013 December Newsletter
  • St Botolph's Church, Quarrington
  • Medieval Cross-Channel travel
  • Welcome to new members
   
2013 November Newsletter
  • St. Botolph's Northfleet
  • First Annual Luncheon
   
2013 October Newsletter
  • St. Botolph's Cambridge
  • The mystery of six missing years
  • Email from Patricia Croxton-Smith
  • The 9th October Annual Luncheon
   
2013 September Newsletter
  • St. Botolph's Church, Skidbrooke
  • Letters from Revd Diane Gardiner, Peter Van Demark and Aaron Friar
  • Saint Botolph's entry into monastic life
  • We still have space for you to attend the first Annual Luncheon on 9th October
   
2013 August Newsletter
  • St. Botolph's Church, Botolphs W. Sussex
  • Letters from Father Pachomius, Simon Knott, Father Lawrence Smith, Father David Murdoch, Mark Tattum-Smith, Jean Mableson and Revd Nigel Lacey
  • Saint Botolph's childhood
   
2013 July Newsletter
  • Hardham Church, West Sussex
  • Icons of Saint Botolph
  • The solution to the Great Eversden Mystery
  • Letters from Allerthorpe and Lincoln
  • Letter from an amateur woodworker and blacksmith in the USA
  • Luncheon 9th October 2013, Cambridge with speaker: Dr Graham Jones
  • Letters from Boston, Massachusetts
   
2013 June Newsletter
  • Barton Seagrave Church
  • 17 June 2013 Saint Botolph's Day
  • Article from Boston Massachusetts
  • Great Eversden mystery
  • Shotesham discovery
  • Luncheon, Cambridge, 9 Oct 13
   
2013 May Newsletter
  • Focus on Botolph - His London Churches
  • Church Feature - Bishopsgate
   
2013 April Newsletter
  • Welcome to the first issue of 'The Boltophian'
  • Feature on St. Botolph's Church, Hadstock, Essex
  • From what source does the name 'Botolph' come?
  • The annual Luncheon:  How about Wednesday 9th October 2013?