“St. Botolph’s, otherwise known as ‘Boston Stump’, is a very special place and we hope you catch a sense of that as you visit us. The beauty of the building is breath-taking. We are inheritors and custodians of an extraordinary vision that could imagine and build something of this scale and grandeur. There is so much here which makes us marvel, admiring human ingenuity and the faith which motivated it.
Yet we also hope you encounter the community here – the staff, volunteers and worshippers who try to make a difference for God. They offer an attractive, confident Christianity, a warmth of welcome, and a willingness to engage. Within our building and community we hope to be a Place of Hospitality for you and those you love.”
The Ministry Team
Opening Times
Church
St Botolph’s welcomes everyone, including your pets! We are an Animal Friendly (Anglican Society of the Welfare of Animals) Church, a member of the Inclusive Church network & Prayer Book Society. We do not charge an entry fee, however a donation would be kindly appreciated towards the work of keeping our magnificent building open.
Monday – Friday
9am – 3pm
Saturday
10am – 4pm
Sunday
10am – 2pm
Stump Gift Shop & The Big Lego Build
The Boston Stump Gift Shop sells a great range of reasonably priced gifts and Boston souvenirs. All the proceeds raised through our shop goes towards ensuring that we can continue to keep our doors open every day throughout the year. For more information, please contact the Shop Manager either via adam.kelk@parishofboston.co.uk or call (01205) 310929.
Whilst visiting St Botolph’s, you could help to build our 100,000 Lego piece replica model of St Botolph’s. Each brick costs £1.00 to sponsor with all the money raised contributing to our educational & community work. Simply pay your sponsorship money in our Gift Shop and then place your brick under the guidance of one of our Lego builders! For more information please contact the Parish Office either by contacting admin@parishofboston.co.uk or calling (01205) 310929. Alternatively, you can sponsor bricks via our website here.
Monday – Friday
9am – 3pm
Saturday & Sunday
10am – 2pm
Tower Experience
There is a £5.00 charge for over 18s, with children going free accompanied by an adult. The climb is not an organised tour, visitors climb on their own.
Monday – Friday
9.30am – 2.30pm
Saturday
10am – 3.30pm
Sunday
Closed
Please note: the last climb is 30minutes before the Church closes. You are advised that it is not suitable for those with cardio-respiratory conditions, or for persons taking medication for breathing difficulties. Young persons under the age of 18years are not permitted to climb the tower unless accompanied by an adult. If there is any doubt you will be asked to prove your age before entry. We regret that bags and holdalls are not permitted. The tower climb may need to close due to inclement weather.
The Refectory
The Refectory serves a good selection of hot/cold drinks, jacket potatoes, soups, toasties, sandwiches & cakes. To see the full menu, please click here.
Monday – Friday
9am – 2.30pm
Saturday
10am – 1.30pm
Sunday
Closed
Tours
Guided tours are offered, for more information please see here.
Service Times
All our services take place in-person, in St Botolph’s Church. Our Sunday services are generally live streamed via Zoom. Login details are usually available via our Worship Calendar section or by emailing admin@parishofboston.co.uk.
Sunday services
First & Third Sunday of the Month
11am – Choral Eucharist
5pm – Choral Evensong (during term time)
All other Sunday’s in the month
11.00am – Choral Eucharist
Monday & Tuesday
9am – Morning Prayer
Wednesday
9am – Morning Prayer
10.30am – Said Eucharist
Midday prayers are offered at 12Noon on weekdays.
Please see Worship Services here as service times can change.
How to find us
| By Car: St Botolph’s Church Church Close Boston PE21 6NWFrom the A16 follow signs for Boston town centre For car parking please see here |
By Train: Boston Train Station Station Approach Boston PE21 3RN5 minute walk For the Boston train timetables please see here |
By Bus: Boston Bus Station St. Georges Road Boston PE21 8YB5 minute walk For more information please see here |
History of the Church
St. Botolph’s Church, often known as ‘Boston Stump’, is spectacular from outside and in and is described by Pevsner as a ‘giant among English Parish churches’. Boston Stump has always been a landmark to both seafarers and people travelling across the flat fenland that surrounds the town.
Replacing an earlier Norman church, construction of the present building commenced in 1309 at the east end and was completed by 1390, apart from the tower. The tower construction was started in 1425-1430 but not completed until 1510-1520. The Chancel was originally only designed to be three bays long but was lengthened by two additional bays to the east, possibly because of the growing importance of commercial and religious life of the town.
In post reformation times there has been remodelling of the interior of the building. With some minor exceptions, the exterior has remained much as it would have been at the time of the reformation. Internally a major programme of work remodelled the church with box pewing, a timber and plaster vault and a sweeping away of the medieval screens, rood and seating arrangements. The interior of the church now largely reflects two significant periods of restoration, in the mid 19th century and in the second decade of the 20th Century.
Over its 700 years the church has played its part in both national and international history. It will be forever linked through the puritan emigrants who in 1630 followed in the wake of the Pilgrim Fathers and founded a new Boston in the United States of America. The size of which has long since surpassed Boston in Lincolnshire, but the close links are never forgotten.
