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St
Botolph's is fortunate to have its parish library which is ranked
among the top ten in the country. It was founded in 1634 on the instructions
of Archbishop Laud. In 1819 there were approximately 950 books, and
by 1950 about 1,500 volumes were found.
In 1997 the Parish Library Project Group was
formed to conserve and catalogue the books. Support for this work
came from many sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund. The
work began in 2002, and a professional cataloguer was employed.
This catalogue can be accessed through the website
link.
The main theme of the books is religious. Many
were published in London, others in Cambridge, Oxford, Europe and
a few in America.
Cataloguing has revealed there are now over 1,700 titles, including
a fine 12th century manuscript, The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, 1542,
a number of volumes by Erasmus, and the Book of Common Prayer, 1549,
together with several copies of Foxe's Book of Martyrs. In addition
there are books of local interest. The twentieth century Parish
Registers still remain in the library, although earlier ones are
held at the Lincolnshire Archives.
The library is open, by prior appointment,
to anyone who cares to visit in addition to the "open days"
when no appointment is needed. Contact should be made via the Parish
Office, Tel: 01205 354670, when a guide will be arranged
at a time to suit.
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