St John’s aims to be an inclusive church. We believe that Jesus calls us to welcome everyone, and to work tirelessly for a more just, fairer and safer world. We work with the Robes Project to combat homelessness. We are proud to offer a home to seven arts organisations including the Southbank Sinfonia and SE1 United. We are committed to working with church and other groups to resist encroaching climate change.
Our worship is in the Anglican catholic tradition. Our congregation is made up of people from the UK, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Germany, the USA, Australia, Malaysia and many other places. We are strong supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and want to be sure that everyone is heard and valued, reflecting God's love for all.
We have LGBTI+ members, married people, single people, children and adults. We also offer a warm welcome to students currently studying in London. We have a developing Junior Church, and above all, a strong community of local people and people who travel in to Waterloo.
A comment from one of our congregation: ‘I love St John’s, because it’s the kind of church I think Jesus would be at home in.’
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Vicar
The Revd Canon Giles Goddard
Giles’s book, Space for Grace – creating inclusive churches – was published by Canterbury Press in November 2008. He is an Honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral and a member of the Church of England's Environment Group and General Synod. He set up InSpire, a centre for learning, arts and community at St Peter’s, Walworth, and has degrees in theology from Cambridge University and King’s College London. Before ordination he was Director of a housing association in South London.
Assistant Curate
The Revd Lisa Bewick
Assistant Priests
The Revd Georgie Bell
The Revd Godfrey Kaziro
The Revd Paul Smedley
Safeguarding Officers
Ester Kawoya
Terry McLeman
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 2017-18
Chair
The Revd Canon Giles Goddard
Vice-Chair
Lindy Taylor
Church wardens
Elaine Thomas 2020
Lindy Taylor 2015
Elected members
Andrew Humphreys (Treasurer) 2017
Pat Thomas (Secretary) 2020
Daisy Powell 2016
Nicola Smedley 2016
Lizzy Peasley 2017
Terry McLeman (Deputy Warden) 2018
Ken Hamilton 2020
Faye Clinch (Deputy Warden) 2020
Philippa Owen 2020
Declan Dunford-Crozier 2020
Deanery synod representatives (three years)
Deborah Watkins
Liz Clarson
Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary (SPA)
Ida Serunjogi
Lay Reader
Ester Kawoya
Other licensed clergy attending
The Revd Godfrey Kaziro
The Revd Lisa Bewick
Enabling Committee
The Revd Canon Giles Goddard (Incumbent)
Elaine Thomas (Churchwarden)
Lindy Taylor (Churchwarden)
The Revd Lisa Bewick (Curate)
Andrew Humphries (Treasurer)
Pat Thomas (Secretary)
Joao Simoes Brown
Lizzie Peasley