A magnificent spire pierces the London sky. This is St John’s Waterloo a church with a story as rich and complex as the city itself.
St John’s Waterloo stands proudly opposite the London IMAX near Waterloo station. It’s an Anglican Greek Revival church built between 1822 and 1824. Architect Francis Octavius Bedford designed this beautiful building. It’s dedicated to St John the Evangelist. It forms a united benefice with St Andrew’s Short Street.
Construction wasn’t easy. The ground was swampy. John Rennie the Younger advised using piles for the foundation. This proved a wise decision. Even after bombing in 1940 and years of exposure the walls remained strong. The church’s resilience is truly remarkable.
The churchyard became a garden in 1877. Lord Brabazon added playground equipment in 1883. The garden was later neglected but restored.
Reginald Blomfield renovated the church in 1885. Ninian Comper made internal alterations in 1924. A bomb hit in 1940 destroying the roof and much of the interior. Services moved to the crypt. The church became known as St John’s-in-the-crypt. The building stood open for ten years. Then Thomas Ford restored and remodelled it in 1950. It was rededicated in 1951 as the Festival of Britain Church.
Ford’s work transformed the interior. He removed galleries. He installed a decorative scheme using Greek motifs gilt and pastel shades. A Hans Feibusch mural was added. Two David Morris paintings depicting Christ in parables were displayed alongside it. The original Victorian interior was gone. The new look reflects Ford’s style from the 1930s and 1950s.
The church’s organ by Bishop & Sons dates back to 1824. Damaged by bombing it was restored in 1951 by Noel Mander. Eight bells cast by Thomas II Mears of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry ring out from the tower dating back to 1825.
The Jubilee line’s construction threatened the church. The soil dried out. Millions of gallons of water had to be pumped into the foundations to prevent collapse.
A 2021-2022 restoration led by Eric Parry Architects faced opposition. The 20th Century Society objected. The work was scaled back resulting in the loss of some of Ford’s features. The Feibusch mural was meticulously restored. However the Morris paintings were removed. Their current location remains unknown.
Today St John’s Waterloo is a thriving multicultural congregation. It hosts the popular Waterloo Festival each June. It’s home to The Bridge at Waterloo and a large churchyard garden. A choir performs under a musical director. The Okusinza Church a Luganda language church with a Ugandan congregation also meets here. Food stalls operate outside the church Monday to Friday.
This church isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a vibrant community hub a testament to the enduring spirit of St John’s Waterloo.