Saint Botolph's Church, Longthorpe

Absolutely Wonderful, Loving, Wholesome, Warm and Welcoming experience! Its my first ever Ash Wednesday in my life, and I was very anxious about how i may be 'judged' or 'looked at'.. but i was welcomed, me and my family with smiles and absolute love. upon entering, me and my family were all welcomed and offered a booklet for us to follow along, shown where we can sit. Even during the service considering i wasnt sure on how it works and goes, Me and my family were helped (mid-session) as they seemingly knew i was new to it, and guided during ever moment of the session a new person would really need help with.. the help came to me there was no need to ask. After the session, once again me and my family were greeted IMMIDEATLY after while still sat down by a Lovely Lady ill call Magg.. her and her husband so warmly asif we were family. and were taken to greet the Lovely Reverend Jackie Bullen and the Church Warden Bob Noyes and had a lovely chat and time to talk about mine and my families future with the Church. The Church on the inside in Spotless, Clean, Clear, and all in all just lovely, beautiful and just so welcoming. Not a bad or negative word for this Church or ANYBODY here. Ash Wednesday 2023. L. Jackson
Feb 16th, 2023

Feb 9th, 2023

Beautiful little church, so well equipped. A very successful mix of the old and the new.
Jul 25th, 2022

I have been inspired to write this review which I have been wanting to write for many years but always held back. I share the feelings of the recent reviewer where they have been ignored by the priest and treated with disdain. I have been going to this church for over two decades and have never felt less a part of the Church as I do now. I do not even believe that the sitting priest knows my family by their first names. We go to church on a regular basis and the most that the priest says to greet us is 'How are we all' and on saying this she turns to nicely converse with the next in line. She would have greeted the person in-front of us with similar enthusiasm to the greeting saved for those who come after us. You may ask how we know this, by listening and observing. She doesn't even care to listen or show concern. It is just phrases which seem to emanate from her mouth when she sees my family. I feel that this behavior is not one to be displayed at a church and I do understand that not every one with whom you come into contact will be a paid up member of your fan club. But the priest should have a higher duty of care and treat the members of the congregation with some dignity and respect. We all matter even if we may not be part of the inner circle of people or pay as much in dues as she expect.s We all matter no matter what our colour, creed or status in life, as she so often preaches, maybe practice what you preach! If my family's belief in God was not a very strong and steadfast one we would have left the church a long time ago as we feel very rejected by this church. But as I always say, the church belongs to everyone and not the presiding priest or the people who feel that they are in the inner circle. Jesus did have 12 disciples but he did not treat the rest as leapers! I go to church to worship and praise my Lord our God and not to be treated with disdain by the priest and the inner circle. But I write this review after many years of deliberation and I feel that this is the right time as it is time to let this nasty burden which we have been carrying around go. Let this Christmas be a time of reflection and realisation for us all that we all matter, even those who may be a bit different, more introverted and less well off than the inner circle. Church is a place of worship and Godly love not one where you are ignored and treated with disdain because who knows; maybe some insight may be helpful!
Apr 6th, 2022

I have just come back from Midnight Mass at St Botolph's Church Longthorpe after being totally ignored by the priest, Jackie Bullen. When I wished her a merry Christmas she completely ignored me and even refused to look at me. She then quickly moved on to enthusiastically wish the person behind me a merry Christmas. As far as I am aware I haven't done anything to offend her. As such I feel very disgusted with the way she has behaved towards me. She should try and practice what she preaches in her sermons. This has spoilt my Christmas and I feel that the priest should try and improve on her disgusting behaviour and reflect on what she has done. You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Ultimately you cannot fool God because he sees all that we do be it good or evil.
Feb 8th, 2022