The church was one of four in medieval London dedicated to St. Botolph, a 7th-century East Anglian saint. Each of these churches stood by one of the gates of the London Wall. The other churches dedicated to St. Botolph were St. Botolph’s, Billingsgate (which was destroyed by the Great Fire of London and not rebuilt), St. Botolph’s, Aldersgate, and St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate.

The earliest written record of this church dates back to 1115 when it was received by the Holy Trinity Priory, recently founded by Matilda, the wife of Henry I. However, the parochial foundations may have existed even before the year 1066. The first recorded Rector of the church was in office by 1108, which predates the first recorded instance of the church itself.

The original Saxon church building underwent enlargement in 1418 and was extensively rebuilt in the sixteenth century. Inside the church, one can find monuments dedicated to historical figures from the Middle Ages, such as Thomas, Lord Dacre, and Sir Nicholas Carrew of Beddington.

The current church building, dating from the 18th century, is constructed from brick with stone quoins and window casings. The church’s tower has a square design and features an obelisk spire.

During the late Victorian period, St. Botolph’s church earned the colloquial nickname "Church of Prostitutes." This moniker was a reflection of the prevailing social attitudes of the time. The church is located on an island surrounded by roadways, and in that era, women standing on street corners were often viewed with suspicion. To evade arrest by the police, prostitutes would frequently walk around the island, which now houses the church and Aldgate tube station.




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