All Saints Church, Peckham
Encyclopedia
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Anglican church in Blenheim Grove, Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is part of Camberwell Deanery within the Anglican Diocese of Southwark
Anglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. On the verge of closing down in 1996 due to a dwindling congregation, the church has grown rapidly over last decade and now has a membership of over 400 adults.
History
The church started in 1867 by Rev Gaster when Peckham was a village on the edge of CamberwellCamberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
and was a haven outside the intense bustle of Victorian London. Within a few years the church had grown from about 20 people, meeting in the vicar's sitting room, to over 600 adults in the congregation, and there was even a children's service for 800 children each Sunday afternoon. The Church Hall and the Church building were completed in 1872. The church has pews for around 400 people, with space in the side aisles for an additional 150-200 people.
The Church grew rapidly in the early 20th century, but, like many inner-city London churches, declined after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. By the mid-1990s the church congregation had fallen in number to a small handful of members. The church was no longer viable and plans were made to sell off the land for housing, but to incorporate a small worship centre for the remaining members on the site.
In 1996 a last ditch effort was made to save the church. The Diocese appointed Rev. Bob Hurley (who had been on the staff at Holy Trinity Brompton in South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
) as vicar. Hurley believed that "... God had a plan that All Saints could be full again on Sundays ..." and, with the rest of the small congregation, was determined to fight the closure plans. The then Bishop of Southwark
Bishop of Southwark (Anglican)
The Bishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark in the Province of Canterbury.Until 1877, Southwark had been part of the Diocese of Winchester when it was transferred to the Diocese of Rochester...
agreed to Hurley's proposal that within two years he would aim to double the congregation of 20 people and install a heating system in the church, or else the church would close. Hurley rose to the challenge and both targets were achieved within 6 months - the threat of closure was removed and the church grew rapidly in the years that followed. Hurley has recorded the remarkable turnaround in a book.
In 2002 Hurley moved on to look after five rural parishes near Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
and in 2003 Rev Frog (Francis) Orr Ewing (previously a curate at St Aldate's Church
St Aldate's Church
St Aldate's is a Church of England parish church in the centre of Oxford, in the Deanery and Diocese of Oxford. The church is on the street named St Aldate's, opposite Christ Church and next door to Pembroke College. The church has a large congregation and has a staff team of about 35 which...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
) was appointed as Vicar of All Saints. During his time as Vicar the number of people attending All Saints grew strongly, the staff team expanded and the outreach and public profile of the church increased significantly.
Frog Orr-Ewing stepped down as Vicar in May 2010 to lead a new church in Buckinghamshire. His final service was broadcast live on BBC1 as a Pentecost service. Two further services BBC Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
services 'Peckham Praise' and 'Urban Hope' were subsequently recorded and broadcast in September 2010 and February 2011.
In July 2011 All Saints welcomed Rev Jonathan Mortimer as their new vicar.
On 14th August 2011, the church hosted a meeting of civic, community and faith leaders, followed by a packed 'Service for Peace', organised jointly with Southwark for Jesus and XLP as a response to the rioting in Peckham
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
. Leaders taking part in the service included Simon Hughes
Simon Hughes
Simon Henry Ward Hughes is a British politician and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Until 2008 he was President of the Liberal Democrats...
MP, the Bishop of Southwark
Bishop of Southwark (Anglican)
The Bishop of Southwark is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Southwark in the Province of Canterbury.Until 1877, Southwark had been part of the Diocese of Winchester when it was transferred to the Diocese of Rochester...
, Dr. Shadrach Ofosuware (Pastor of Freedom Centre International Peckham), the Borough Police Commander, Patrick Regan (Director of XLP), Phil Stokes (Chair of Southwark for Jesus) and Revd Jonathan Mortimer (All Saints Peckham). During the service a text message of support was sent by London Mayor Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
.
Worship
All Saints has two services each Sunday, a morning service at 10.30am and an evening service at 7pm. There is also a midweek Service on Tuesdays at 11am. The services reflect the New WineNew Wine
New Wine is the largest UK network of charismatic churches and Christians. It originated in 1989 as a Christian festival run by two Anglican clergy from St Andrew’s Church Chorleywood: Bishop David Pytches and the Rev. Barry Kissell...
/Soul Survivor style of worship. In 2005 the Church released its first live worship CD 'Your Favour'.
Homegroups
Over the last decade Homegroups have played a vital role in the life of All Saints, enabling 'Church' to happen during the week around the local area. As the number of people attending All Saints has increased, the number of homegroups have also risen.Social outreach
Through its many kids and youth clubs and involvement with many schools, All Saints has regular weekly contact with around 600 children. The Church has also been involved in three major missions in the local area over the last few years - 'Soul in the City' in 2004 and 'God loves Peckham' in 2006 and 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, All Saints ran both a drama class and a football class for 5-11 year olds at the Bradfield Club in Commercial Way, as well as partnering with the club during their summer outreach weeks.Prince Charles, who visited the Church in July 2010, paid tribute to the church's social outreach. His visit was included in the BBC Songs of Praise episodes broadcast in September 2010 and February 2011.
Name
The official name of the church is All Saints, Camberwell, but apart from administrative issues with the Diocese, it is always known as All Saints Peckham.Affiliations
As well as being part of the Anglican Diocese of SouthwarkAnglican Diocese of Southwark
The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 44 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was formed on May 1, 1905 from part of the Diocese of Rochester...
, All Saints is a member of the:
- New Wine Network
- Evangelical AllianceEvangelical AllianceThe Evangelical Alliance is a London-based charitable organization founded in 1846. It has a claimed representation of over 1,000,000 evangelical Christians in the United Kingdom and is the oldest alliance of evangelical Christians in the world....
- Fusion (student movement)Fusion (student movement)Fusion is a Christian charity that serves, supports and resources students. It works across all denominations to develop joined up thinking and action for student mission. Fusion is primarily outworked through small groups or ‘cells’ that have been inspired by John Wesley and his implementation of...
.
External links
- All Saints web site
- Mystery worshipper report from the Ship of Fools web site
- BBC1 Pentecost Service
- Prince of Wales web site media release about the Prince's visit to All Saints
- BBC Songs of Praise 'Peckham Praise'
- BBC Songs of Praise 'Urban Hope'
- Diocese of Southwark media release about August 2011 'Service for Peace'