St John the Evangelist, the church by the roundabout at Waterloo, tries to be an inclusive church. We believe that Jesus calls us to welcome everyone.
In the midst of our (usually) hectic city, we provide sanctuary, contemplation and spiritual enrichment. In the face of social injustice and deep need, we respond with action.
Our worship is in the Anglican catholic tradition. Our congregation is made up of LGBT+ people, married people, single people, children and adults. We also offer a warm welcome to students studying in London. We have 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.
Through our charity, The Bridge at Waterloo, we provide therapy, counselling, creative activities, employment and resilience training for homeless people, young people and other local people for whom life's challenges are now even more acute.
We run the annual Waterloo Festival, a fringe of international, national and local creativity. We’re home to Southbank Sinfonia, one of the best youth orchestras in the world. We provide meeting and performance space for hundreds of arts groups and charities. Our volunteer gardeners make our Churchyard an oasis of beauty and calm and we are committed to resisting climate change.
During the Second World War, St John’s was devasted by a firebomb. The 1824 church underwent a major restoration, reopening as the church of the Festival of Britain. Now, we’re planning another major restoration, this time with emphasis on our vast but semi-derelict crypt. Carefully restored, our magnificent Grade II* church will serve even better to bring people together.
We have a lot going on. If any of it appeals to you, give us a try! Or, if you have any queries about our work and life, contact the Vicar at giles@stjohsnwaterloo.org
Revd. Canon Giles Goddard
“St John’s is the kind of church I think Jesus would be at home in.”
A member of the congregation on discovering St John’s.
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, a member of the Church of England's Environment Group, a leading member of the Church’s Living in Love and Faith project, and a member of 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 Priests
The Revd Georgie Bell
The Revd Canon Duncan Dormor
The Revd Godfrey Kaziro
The Revd Paul Smedley
Safeguarding Officers
Ester Kawoya
Terry McLeman
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 2021-22
Chair
The Revd Canon Giles Goddard
Vice-Chair
Elaine Thomas
Church wardens
Elaine Thomas 2020
Faye Clinch 2021
Elected members
Robert Smeath (Treasurer) 2021
Pat Thomas (Secretary) 2020
Terry McLeman (Deputy Warden) 2021
Ken Hamilton 2020
Philippa Owen 2020
Declan Dunford-Crozier 2020
Sean Galpin 2021
Peter Omoghene-Osario 2021
Alice Kawoya 2021
Jacek Borek 2021
Connie Kaweesa 2021
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)
Faye Clinach (Churchwarden)
Robert Smeath (Treasurer)
Pat Thomas (Secretary)
Joao Simoes Brown (Chair, Environment and Social Justice Cttee)
Lizzie Peasley (Chair, Hospitality Cttee)
Deborah Watkins (Chair, Finance Cttee)
Liz Clarson (Chair, Column Inches)