On Saturday 12 October, Archbishop Justin joined Bishop Sarah in visiting and praying with several London church communities, highlighting the Diocese’s vision to become younger, more racially just and a safe place for everyone.
The day started bright and early with a contemplative walk from Lambeth Palace, through central London to St Martin-in-the-fields. Led by the Revd Richard Carter, we were joined online by 227 people following the Facebook live-stream, as we walked the banks of the river and paused for prayer at 10 Downing Street.
On arrival at St Martin-in-the-fields, our group joined the Nazareth Community for their monthly silent prayer meeting. The Nazareth Community began in 2018 with 48 members taking their promises to live a simple rule of life, and now has over 100 members.
On the subject of Monastic Communities, we were joined throughout the Prayer Day by the 2024 members of the Community of St Anselm – Archbishop Justin’s group who live at Lambeth Palace. Made up of Christians aged 20-35, of different denominations, the St Anselm members come from around the world to spend a year living in London, dedicating a year to prayer, study and service to the poor.
We all agreed that the walk and chance for silence in the peaceful St Martin’s was a wonderful way to start any Saturday.
Our next stop was a bit noisier, at the Kensington Area Growing Younger Training Day. Archbishop Justin spent an hour with those passionate about ministry to children and young people, ending our time there with prayer stations.
A journey to north London led us to WAVE church – We Are Valued Equally. Bishop Sarah is well known to this church, who are a group of approximately 50 adults with and without learning disabilities. They meet together in Muswell Hill to worship.
There is undoubtedly something special going on at WAVE. In London, we can become quite used to the ‘heads down’ attitude, with people being private, and even cold. So the warmth and acceptance that radiates from WAVE is obvious as soon as you walk through the door. Everyone is seen, everyone has a place (literally – we each had a numbered table to sit at), and everyone is valued.
Each worship song was preceded by instructions on how to sign in Makaton, and part way through the service we were invited to write prayers on paper cutouts which became a prayer ring.
I would encourage anyone to visit a WAVE group, if you are able, or join one of the WAVE workshops.
Our penultimate stop was to visit the Grove Community, a church plant on the Gurnell Grove estate. The noticeboard in the community centre was testament to how many activities are now run by this lay-led church, including an after-school Kids club, community lunches, an OAP club, and the very popular Bingo Church.
After meeting some of the church members, Bishop Sarah walked across the estate to Heron House to pray with the residents, whilst Archbishop Justin and Bishop Lusa went door knocking on the estate, offering prayer and conversation. The Grove Community exists to bless and serve the estate with the good news of Jesus, and the warmth with which the residents welcomed us showed how valued the church is.
Our final stop of the day was St Mary’s Bryanston Square in central London, with a worship event beautifully run by the St Mary’s Youth. After a meaningful but humour filled talk on the Lord’s Prayer by Archbishop Justin, we moved into prayer stations around the church.
In many ways the Prayer Day was just scratching the surface of what’s going on in the Diocese of London, but it showed five different places all serving the needs of their particular communities, and all serving God.
