At St John’s we believe that Church should be a place of encounter, where we engage with the issues and challenges of modern life.
Whether you’re a regular member or an occasional visitor, one of the ways you can get more involved is by learning with us. As well as listening to the teaching in the sermon each Sunday, you could also join one of our popular courses.

What kind of courses do we run?

Throughout the year we run a varied programme of courses, groups and workshops to give us all an opportunity to deepen our understanding of God and our Christian faith, and to reflect on our lives, our world and our relationships with others.
For example, a small group recently met at St John’s for five weeks to explore The Big Questions—Who is God? What is the Bible? Who are we? What is life about?
Our Lent course each spring is usually shared with neighbouring churches, when larger groups meet to hear and question invited speakers. In recent years we have looked at the major world religions, and at some of the more unusual ways of living out the Christian faith in the heart of our City.
Sometimes we join in with larger events, such as the Archbishop of Canterbury’s dialogues on global economic and social issues at St Paul’s Cathedral. We followed these with a meal out together to discuss some of the issues raised. And there are other occasional events such as our Quiet Day at the Wallace Collection, and workshops for those who lead our intercessions.

Is it for you?

Anyone can come along - you don’t need any special knowledge or qualifications, just a willingness to contribute to the group and to engage with and explore the big questions about life and faith.
Some courses are specifically targeted (e.g. for those enquiring about the Christian faith, or for parents who help to lead Kid’s Club), and some have limited places—usually because they’re taking place in somebody’s home.
As there is usually some food and drink involved, we always ask you to book a place via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !

What happens?

There is no single format, but often meetings begin with a simple bread and soup meal which leads into an hour of teaching, discussion and shared Bible study.
Some courses are written and delivered by our St John’s Education Group, while others follow a book or series of video clips (such as the recent 10-week Beta Course, on being Christian, becoming whole, and building community).
Everyone brings their own varied stories and experiences, so the emphasis is less on telling you the answers, than on exploring the questions together.

What does it lead to?

Our courses aren’t meant to be training or preparation for anything specific—so you’re not committing to anything beyond the meetings themselves. However, for some people this learning and exploration can lead to an explicit commitment of faith (through baptism or confirmation) or to thinking about other ways of getting involved at St John’s and putting their faith into action.

How can I find out more?

The details of all our courses are in the weekly notice sheet or on the website. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need more information, or would like to sign up for a place.