St Botolph, Aldgate

St Botolph, a seventh-century Saxon abbot, somehow became the protector of travellers during the Middle Ages, something like St Christopher. Thus there were chapels dedicated to him at four of London’s gates, three of which have survived. Aldgate was the easternmost gate of the City, and this church is now on the street called Aldgate at the corner of Houndsditch. It was first built in the twelfth century or maybe earlier, but the present building was put up in 1741–44 by George Dance the Elder, architect of the Mansion House. It was damaged in the war and again by a fire in 1966, but has been well restored. It serves as the headquarters of the Diocesan Council for Jewish/Christian Understanding.