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St John’s is an Anglican church, and as such we have a responsibility to serve our local community. It’s something we take very seriously. For us, it’s an essential part of our ministry to serve the people of our parish whether or not they are coming to church.

There are a number of ways in which we try to support and contribute to the community life around us. Firstly, our church is open during the week to provide a calm, reflective space for any who need it. We believe God is available to all who seek him, and inside our church is a place where that can happen. We also have a duty to baptise, marry and bury all those who live in the parish and want us to. Secondly, we are openly engaged with and committed to the other drivers of community life that work alongside us in the parish.

We have good relations with the Hyde Park Estate Association, and support both their social functions and committee work. The Hyde Park Estate Association is a non-religious, non-political association formed to protect the architectural heritage, the amenities and the overall tranquillity of the environment on the Hyde Park Estate. That’s the area from Bayswater Road to Sussex Gardens which falls in the south side of St John’s parish. The HPEA notice board on the corner of Kendal Street and Connaught Street always has information about events happening in the area.

We are also active members of the Paddington Police Sector Working Group. The SWG exists to engage with and reassure Paddington’s diverse community about policing, anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder reduction. It’s a place where people from all parts Paddington’s diverse community meet.

Our area is indeed one of huge diversity. It ranges from the shops and restaurants of the Edgware Road, through residential squares to the hotels of Sussex Gardens and Norfolk Square, and up to the new development of Paddington Waterside. In all these places the church is present and working to improve our common life together.

Of course, Westminster City Council is crucial to our community. We are involved with the Edgware Road Action Plan currently in discussion and also meet regularly with our local councillors. There are many other groups active in the area with whom we work, such as the Edgware Road Traders Association, the Egyptian Association, and Paddington Business Network. Many of our congregation also serve on local committees and groups.

We share a voluntary aided Church of England primary school with our neighbouring parish of St James’, Sussex Gardens. You can read more about St James’ and St Michael’s school. At St John’s we also have a Montessori Nursery School that operates from our church hall. The Nursery is run by PaintPots, an excellent and local Montessori Nursery. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The church has always cared about education and our support of both the school and nursery is part of our commitment to helping give the children of our parish a good start in life.

Last but not least, every September sees Horseman’s Sunday. The annual Horseman’s Sunday celebrations began in 1968 to highlight the need to maintain stables along the north of Hyde Park; at that time the stables were threatened with closure.  What began as a public and political action has become a unique local institution attracting local residents, tourists and horse lovers from across London. It’s one of the most colourful events in the Hyde Park calendar.  And after all, how often do you get to see a cloaked member of the clergy on horseback these days?