Pause here for a moment and listen carefully. St. Johns Church has stood here since 1814. It began as a chapel of ease. It supported St Marylebone Parish Church.
St. Johns Church history is quite interesting. Thomas Hardwick constructed it. He was also building St Marylebone Church at the same time. Imagine the bustle of construction.
Originally, St. Johns Church had large burial grounds. These closed in 1855. In 1886, they reopened as a public garden. It became St. John’s Wood Church Grounds. Around 50000 graves are thought to be here. Artist John Sell Cotman rests here. So does prophetess Joanna Southcott.
In 1898, St. Johns Church became a chapel of ease. It then served Christ Church, Marylebone. It gradually became the parish’s administrative center.
During World War II, St Stephen’s was bombed. It was on Avenue Road. It became unusable. In 1952, St. Johns Church became a parish church. It was now a church in its own right.
St. Johns Church has hosted important events. Peggy Cripps married Joe Appiah here in 1953. Paul and Linda McCartney received a marriage blessing in 1969. Ursula Vaughan Williams’ funeral was in 2007.
In the 1970s, a Church Hall complex was added. Hans Feibusch created a statue. It honored John the Baptist. He is the church’s patron saint.
Restoration occurred in 1991. Michael Reardon supervised. The chancel pavement was relaid. Limestone was used. The central altar replaced the high altar.
Today, St. Johns Church has many regular worshippers. The electoral roll lists 225 people. Services maintain thoughtful preaching. They also value musical tradition. A professional octet leads worship. It sings at the main Sunday service. An amateur Chamber Choir sings Evensong monthly. The organ has three manuals and 52 stops. It was made by B. C. Shepherd and Sons.
The building remains open daily. It is a place for prayer. It provides a space for stillness.
St. Johns Church collaborates with local churches. They hold a monthly service together. This service involves letter-writing for Amnesty International. Clergy meet with leaders from other faiths. They hold scriptural reasoning discussions. These include the Liberal Jewish Synagogue and London Central Mosque.
The Church Hall complex serves multiple purposes. St. John’s Wood Pre-Preparatory School uses it during the day. A youth club meets in the crypt. This occurs on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. The hall is hired for local meetings. Charities like ARC UK use it too.
Anders Bergquist is the current vicar. He started in 2002.
St. Johns Church stands as a testament to history. It has evolved over the years. It remains a vibrant part of the community. It is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a living, breathing entity.