New rector takes on role linking wealthy City with East End poverty

A WOMAN has been appointed by the Bishop of London as the new Rector of an ancient church that bridges the wealthy City business district with Britain’s third poorest borough. The Rev Laura Burgess has taken up her post at St Botolph’s in London’s East End after five years at St Paul’s Cathedral

Picture: Graham Lacdao

A WOMAN has been appointed by the Bishop of London as the new Rector of an ancient church that bridges the wealthy City business district with Britain’s third poorest borough.

The Rev Laura Burgess has taken up her post at St Botolph’s at Aldgate in London’s East End after five years at St Paul’s Cathedral.

She had her induction at the church often referred as the Gateway to the East End’ connecting the City, one of the world’s leading financial centres, with a deprived Tower Hamlets.

The ceremony was conducted by Dr Richard Chartres, who is patron of St Botolph’s, while the Induction itself was performed by the Archdeacon of London, the Venerable David Meara.

Laura Burgess, speaking about her new role, said: “I am returning to parish ministry after five years at St Paul’s to take up my role at St Botolph’s, which is the bridge’ between the City and the East End. St Botolph’s is a vibrant, lively congregation.”

She spent five years as a Minor Canon and Sacrist at St Paul’s, responsible for coordinating daily liturgy and organizing special services such as the Tsunami memorial in 2005 broadcast live by the BBC and the 200th anniversary of Battle of Trafalgar that same year.

Laura was ordained in 2000 at St Alban’s Diocese, serving at the Cathedral and Abbey of St Alban, having trained at Cuddesdon and at the Graduate School at the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Geneva.