Our Saint Botolph was regarded by many in the seventh century as the “Holiest and wisest man in the land”.

He was born only 23 years after St. Augustine brought Christianity back to Britain and he was disputably the person who was most active in promoting Christianity during those early years. 

He is one of the foremost people to whom we owe a great debt of thanks for being instrumental in founding Britain’s Christian culture. 

He was the patron saint of travellers for a thousand years until the fictional personage of St. Christopher became more popular. 

There was a church dedicated to St. Botolph at each of the main London gates, i.e. Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Aldgate and Billingsgate;  the latter was destroyed during the Great Fire of London in 1666.    Each church was close to a city gate so that travellers who were starting out on their journeys could pray for protection and good fortune on their way and those who were just entering the city could give thanks for arriving with their lives still intact.