Archbishop of Canterbury blessing heralds new era for restored Waterloo church

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, visited St John’s Waterloo to lead a Service of Rededication following completion of a £5.5 million restoration project. 

The church, which is a Grade II* listed building, was constructed in 1826 to serve a growing population of working people in Waterloo.

These days, it is also a well-known concert venue and home to the Waterloo Festival, and for many years has been a centre of support for the homeless.  

Before the restoration, its nave was a vast open space and its decoration was drab, while the lighting was poor and its important altarpiece murals by German Jewish refugee artist Hans Feibusch, created in 1951, were in a perilous state.  

Down below, the crypt was a maze of dark, damp rooms and semi-derelict spaces. 

The revamp, overseen by Eric Parry Architects, has transformed the church, but has preserved both the original Greek Revival style 19th century architecture of Francis Bedford and the 20th century changes made when the church was restored following wartime bombing. 

The installation of a lift makes the crypt fully accessible for the first time and there is solar panelling to offset energy use in the crypt. 

The Service of Rededication was attended by some 250 people from across South London. Among them were the Leader of Lambeth Council, Cllr Claire Holland, Christopher Wellbelove, the Deputy Lieutenant for Lambeth, the Bishop of Kingston Richard Cheetham, and Simon Gates, Archdeacon of Lambeth. 

Rev Canon Giles Goddard, the vicar of St John’s, said: “We are honoured that the Archbishop came to St John’s to help us launch an important new era in the life of our church.  

“Today we welcomed all who have worked so long and so hard to see through this monumental challenge.” 

Archbishop Welby said: “This is the second time St John’s has transformed itself to bring hope after a period of national despair. During the Second World War, a firebomb fell through the roof but in 1951 the church was rebuilt to be the official church of the Festival of Britain.  

“Now, as it reopens in these post-pandemic times, St John’s is a place where relationships are being rebuilt and community strengthened.” 

Pictured top: the Service of Rededication (Pictures: Eleanor Bentall)