St John’s Late
Returning in November, St John’s Late services offer a friendly but contemplative space for those who’ve missed the morning, want to try something different or seek space for reflection.
Choral Evensong
15th November, 6pm
This traditional service is a jewel of the English choral tradition. We are pleased to welcome back the Chamber Choir of Queen’s College London who will sing alongside our choral scholars and instrumentalists. The canticles are by Lizzie Wheeler and the anthem is John Ireland’s Greater Love.
Jazz Mass
22nd November, 6pm
The atmosphere of a jazz club, great music and the beauty of the eucharist meet in this fantastic service with wine and nibbles available throughout. The setting is A Little Jazz Mass by B. Chilcott and the anthem is The Gospel Train arr. Buckland and the anthem is His Name is God by Peter Przystaniak.
Advent Carols
29th November 2026, 6pm
Step through the wardrobe and into a world of winter, wonder and expectation at our Advent Carol Service. Our choral scholars and orchestra, plus the children’s choir from St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, will lead us on a journey through C. S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, to follow the signs of a coming King and discover how Advent can awaken hope in a world waiting for light.
Music to include works by Debussy, Richter, Woodhall, Sorenson, Finzi, Tom Waits & Regina Spektor. The service is followed with mulled wine and mince pies.
Nine Lessons & Carols
20th December 2026, 6pm
A traditional candlelit service of lessons and carols led by the St John’s choral scholars and orchestra. This year the music is drawn from Heather Sorenson’s A Carol Mosaic. Followed by fizz and panettone.
Culture Venture for November
Friday 27th November, 7.30pm
Following our successful venture into the world of ballet, our next venture is into architecture. We will visit the fascinating home of the 19th century architect Sir John Soane in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. In 1833 the house was gifted to the nation to be kept as it was at the time of his death in 1837, and as well as opening the house 5 days a week there are evening events allowing exploration of the house by candlelight and the opportunity to delve deeper into a different theme / collection.
On Friday 27th November 7.30pm we will be taken on a journey by the eighth cohort of New Architecture Writers into the future of the Museum through their new speculative guidebook.
Inspired by Sir John Soane’s own Crude Hints Towards an History of my House, in which he imagines his home as a future ruin inspected by visitors speculating on its origins and function, New Architecture Writers have taken on a long-held Museum tradition and made the Museum Guidebook their own.
Featuring live readings from New Architecture Writers, this will be an evening unlike any other. You will be invited to consider Sir John Soane's Museum in an entirely new light. The Museum is at its most awe-inspiring after dark when the vast and eclectic collections are lit with candlelight and brought to life by this new interpretation by New Architecture Writers, as well as the insights of the Museum’s expert guides.
Echoing the theme of the evening the house currently has the fascinating exhibition of Michael Landy’s Future Ruins which are meticulously detailed drawings of iconic buildings imagined after years of neglect and decay.
Tickets are £25 and this includes a class of wine and a copy of the New Architecture Writers’ Speculative Guidebook.
For those who would like to have food together before the event, we will meet for pizza at 6.30pm.
For further details and to purchase a ticket please speak to or contact Deborah at deborah@stjohns-hydepark.com
Prom Concerts
Sunday 17th January, 11.30am
Kieran Hughes, flautist & Robert Bottriell, pianist. Dutilleux Sonatine, Bach Sonata in B minor & Gade’s Tango Fantasia.
Sunday 28th February, 11.30am
Master and Disciple II: Greenhill Returns
Duets for piano and organ (four hands, 19 fingers) performed by Kapellmeister Emeritus Robert Greenhill & the artist formerly known as Little Nicky. Works by Mozart, Bach, Mascagni, Vierne, Debussy & Rossini.
Hall Refurbishment
The hall was expanded around 1973 and, aside from a new kitchen in 1995 and new toilets in 2015, we have not invested much beyond routine maintenance in the space. A key asset for the local community, it is badly in need of upgrading. Paint Pots’ departure last year has given us an opportunity to carry out significant works to it while we locate a new tenant. The PCC has set aside some funds for this last year. Works are expected to commence in the final week of February 2027.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
War Memorial
New Life for our Cherished War Memorial We are delighted to announce that St John’s has secured £650 pounds ‘seed money’ to begin the process of repairing the war memorial in our churchyard. Seventy-five percent was donated by the War Memorials Trust (WMT) and the remainder by an anonymous donor. In making the award, WMT Director, Frances Moreton, said it was “so important that communities come together and maintain these historic monuments to ensure that we never forget those who gave their lives for future generations”. She said the WMT was “delighted to be working with St John’s on this project, which is also supported by Historic England, to ensure that the repair is conducted according to best practice and with maximal involvement of the community”. If anyone wishes to know more or get involved in the project, please be in touch. In the initial phase, we have contracted a conservation-accredited surveyor to conduct a structural assessment, and once that is complete, we will create a schedule of works in order to go out to tender and finalise a contract with a specialist conservation firm. And of course, as we move to the actual repair phase, we will need to raise further funds. Our ambition is to begin work next year.
Refugee Drop-in Volunteers
St John’s hosts a monthly Sunday drop-in centre for refugees run by the West London Synagogue. This provides families with a hot meal, a shopping voucher and a contribution towards their transport, as well as signposting for other practical help. The drop-in centre normally takes place on the third Sunday of the month and they are always open to volunteers to assist them. If you would like to join the volunteer crew, please speak to the Vicar. The next drop-in centre is today.
Book Club
The next book club will be on 16th November 2026. The book choice is "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", a cult classic of post-war, working-class life in Nottingham that follows the exploits of Arthur Seaton, a hard-drinking, hard-fighting factory worker who knows exactly what he wants and is sharp enough to get it. First published in 1958 to instant critical acclaim, the novel was adapted into a groundbreaking 1960 film that transformed British cinema. For further information about the book club please contact Irwin Nazareth.
