Each week, St John’s Hoxton opens its doors to a remarkable cross-section of the local community. Families gather for events, young people take part in activities and sports projects, neighbours share meals, choirs rehearse, support groups meet, and worshippers come together in prayer. For many, St John’s is woven into the story of life in Hoxton.
That story stretches back 200 years.
Built in 1826, St John’s has witnessed enormous change in the neighbourhood around it. Through generations of social and economic transformation, it has remained a place of worship, welcome and service. Now, as the church celebrates its bicentenary year, a significant grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will help ensure that ministry and community life can continue long into the future.
Two centuries at the heart of Hoxton
St John’s has been awarded £180,861 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop plans for the conservation and renewal of its Grade II* listed building. The award marks a major milestone in efforts to secure the future of a church that has served the people of Hoxton for two centuries.
While Historic England describes St John’s as “the most significant building in Hoxton”, church leaders are keen to emphasise that its value extends far beyond its architecture. More than 16,000 people pass through its doors each year, taking part in worship, youth work, community meals, support groups, cultural events and activities serving some of the most vulnerable members of the local community.
A vital building facing urgent need
The grant comes at a critical moment. St John’s is currently included on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, with significant deterioration to its stonework requiring urgent attention. The funding will support a major development phase ahead of a future capital project expected to cost around £3.5 million.
Over the coming months, the church will undertake detailed conservation surveys and planning, explore ways to improve accessibility and environmental sustainability, and consult widely with residents, partners and building users. The project will also research and share previously untold stories from the history of both St John’s and the wider Hoxton community.
Looking beyond the building
Importantly, church leaders see the project as being about more than preserving a historic building.
“For 200 years this church has served the people of Hoxton,” said the Revd Graham Hunter, Vicar of St John’s. “While the building itself is of great historic significance, its greatest value lies in the countless lives that have been shaped here over the last two centuries.
“This project is an opportunity not only to safeguard the future of a remarkable heritage asset, but also to listen carefully to our community and work together to help St John’s continue to be a beacon of hope for Hoxton.”
Shaping the next chapter together
As part of the project, local people will be invited to contribute memories, ideas and perspectives, helping shape plans for the church’s future. The aim is not simply to restore an important building, but to ensure St John’s can continue serving Hoxton well into its third century.
As the church marks 200 years of ministry, the Heritage Fund award offers an opportunity to honour the past while looking forward with confidence. By investing in both the building and the community it serves, the project seeks to ensure that St John’s remains a place of worship, welcome and hope for generations to come.
