About us

St Botolph's stands at the site of the ancient Trumpington Gate to Cambridge. The churchyard and garden offer a glimpse of trees, grass and flowers at a busy junction, and the church itself provides an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the City. It has been in constant use for at least 700 years, and probably for much longer in an earlier building on the same site.

Our congregation come from all over Cambridge and further afield for traditional Prayer Book based worship and fine, supporting music. We are all ages and backgrounds, some longstanding regular worshippers and others coming from time to time, or during term time.

The church is open every day for prayer, contemplation and refuge. It attracts 30,000 visitors a year and many appreciate the quiet stillness, beauty and peace which St Botolph's provides amidst the bustle of central Cambridge. Many visitors leave messages:

“It’s been a while since I was last in Cambridge, and longer still since I sang in this church as an undergraduate. Lovely to see it still open and it feels as calm and welcoming as it always did.”

“A lovely quiet place to pray for our daughter.”

“A wonderful church, full of the Spirit of God. Peaceful yet vibrant. Beautiful, much loved and well cared for. Thank you for being open”.

Our parishioners too have described some of the things which brought and bring them to St Botolph's:

"St Botolph’s drew me in some years ago since it was my parish church. It also offered Prayer Book worship, that rich spiritual resource in which I had had the fortune to grow up. Still within reach in my retirement this ancient church continues to provide worship that gives a structure for measured, unfussy contemplation of the gift of God in Christ. It is a blessing too that we have a building of some 700 years where we are joined in our prayer by so great a cloud of witnesses."

"St Botolph's has been absolutely essential to my journey in faith. A warm welcome, beautiful words and music, often something delicious to eat and drink as well. It's like stepping into a family home each Sunday. Come and worship here - you really won't regret it!"

"The best word to sum up the atmosphere at St Botolph’s, for this writer, at any rate, is tranquillity. To enter the west door from the street is to cross the threshold of the numinous, and to become more deeply aware of the presence of God."

You can learn more about us in our Parish Profile here.

Hello and welcome to St Botolph's. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St Botolph's

The following information is specifically for those planning a first visit, so that you know beforehand what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

Our services are at St Botolph's church in the centre of Cambridge (details below). On Sundays these always start at 11.00am. We suggest planning to arrive 10-15 minutes early, especially if driving as parking spaces are in short supply in central Cambridge, and to find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by a sides person who will help you find somewhere to sit and will give you a hymn book and a prayer book, or a service sheet.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits after the service and we hope very much that you will stay for a chat. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Plan your journey:

Open Google Maps

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access. Please let the sides person know on your arrival and they will help you. Please note access to the toilet requires a step.

The service

Our Sunday service begins at 11am and follows the Book of Common Prayer. On the first, second, fourth and fifth Sundays we have a Sung Eucharist. On the third Sunday we have Choral Mattins with a said service of Holy Communion at 8am. There will be organ music before the service and the bell will ring for about five minutes before the service starts. All services will have a sermon from the Rector or a visiting preacher. These usually last for around 10-15 minutes. The choir plays a part in all services, leading hymns and sung elements of the service. The service ends with an organ voluntary. Many people sit and listen to this for five minutes or so. Others will start to congregate around the tea and coffee table for a chat.

What about children?

We welcome children of all ages and no one should be embarrassed if young ones cry or older ones wander around. We do not have a Sunday School so children remain in the service with their parents. There is a carpeted area in the side chapel which is available for parents and small children who want to step away from the main church for a while.

Getting in touch

Helping with services and the life of the church

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make our services run smoothly, please let us know. We are always looking for help with anything from flowers, to refreshments, to opening the church for visitors during the week and a hundred and one other tasks that keep the life of the community.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


The Rev'd Jonathan Collis, Rector		Sarah Eastwood, Churchwarden

We hope that you will feel at home at St Botolph's.

Best Wishes,
All at St Botolph's