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Women's Prayer Evening

Tuesday 10th October

This is an occasion for the women of St John's to meet together, hear about some of the women's ministry at St John's, and to pray together. 

The evening will start at 7.45, and end at around 9.30. 

The Building

The Building - Past & Present

St John's was built as a Chapel of Ease in the early 1820s and completed in 1823 when its first service was held on 26^th October. Its construction was the result of a partnership between the Reverend James Curry, Edward Carlisle - a lawyer - and builder William Woods who was responsible for much of the development of Downshire Hill. After a turbulent early history, the church grew as a result of a settled ministry from the 1840s and, at one point , had a close association with the now defunct Downshire Hill School as well with a strong association with overseas Christian mission work. From its earliest history, St John's was founded within an Evangelical tradition to preach the good news about Jesus Christ clearly and faithfully from the Bible to all who might enter its doors and to those in the surrounding vicinity.

The building, with its Regency stuccoed and cream painted facade is more typical of churches of that period in the New England region of the USA. Interesting features include its Doric porch and double staircased vestibule as well as the East Window, dating from 1882 which depicts the Eagle of St John. Under it the reredos frames the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Apostles' Creed. During a restoration project in the late 1960s, a frieze of biblical text which had been obliterated in 1923 was rediscovered decorating the gallery and reredos and repainted in the original striking gold lettering. The Bevington & Sons organ in the West Gallery was built in 1873 and installed in 1880 replacing a smaller one. The wooden box pews which line the sides of the church are those for which the first congregation and successive generations paid pew rents until the early 1950s and St John's is one of the few churches in England retaining original examples of this seating. Below the bellcote outside, the distinctive black and gold clock on the front of the building is as old as the church; made by John Moore and Son of Clerkenwell in 1823, its simple bold design is typical of similar timepieces of that period.

As a proprietary chapel, St John's is recognised as a church within the London Diocese of the Church of England but has complete independence in financial matters. It receives no support from and makes no contribution to Diocesan Funds. It is entirely self supporting and all costs, including staff and building costs, are borne by the congregation which has owned the building since 2003 when they bought it from the family trust which had owned it and leased it to them since the First World War.

Grade I listed by English Heritage, the building has been subject to a number of restoration projects. The most recent was completed in September 2004 when key structural problems, most notably a lack of foundations, were finally addressed by an extensive £2.5 million project to underpin the building and, in the process, add an undercroft which extended the church's facilities considerably. The continuing history of this lovely building continues to be a great testament to God's wonderful grace in Jesus Christ through and to His people in Hampstead and beyond.

The Easy Saturday Morning

The next...

Easy Saturday Morning

is on Saturday 24th February 

A chance for Dads to tuck into a cooked breakfast while the children enjoy plenty of toys. 

From 8.30-10am.  Please let us know if you'd like to come.

Easter 2008

Easter 2008

Come and join us to celebrate the Lord's death and resurrection.

Good Friday 21st March at 10:00am

A service of readings and meditations on the cross, with special music by St John's Singers.

The service will include Communion.

Easter Day 23rd March at 10:30am

A service to celebrate Jesus' victory over death, with special music by St John's Singers

There will be no separate children's clubs during these services, so families are encouraged to sit together.

Holiday Club

May Half Term 2008

St John's are running a fun-filled Holiday Club for children aged 5-11 during the Summer half term. The club will run from 10am to 12pm on Tuesday 27th, Wednesday 28th, Thursday 29th and Friday 30th May. The theme is Romans, and there will be games, sports, crafts and songs based on Paul's letter. As ever, the club is free of charge but if possible do register your child before the event by contacting the church office.

Evening Sermon Series

Troubled by the Trinity?

Services

Weekly Services

We meet together twice on Sundays and, although slightly different in style and format, both services focus on learning more of the God of the Bible, His Son Jesus Christ and what His word has to say about Himself and our lives in relation to Him. Both meetings involve music, prayer and the reading and teaching of the Bible.

10.30 am Morning Service: This service is slightly more traditional and open to all, it is especially appropriate for families with children as for most of the year we run a programme of Bible-centred activities for children from 2-15 years old and a creche for under 2s. From 27 July to 7 September, this is suspended but the service is shorter and the sermon includes child-friendly visuals. There is also an opportunity to talk and get to know each other better over tea or coffee after the service.

6pm Evening Service: This service is slightly less formal and although open to all, we run no separate children's activities. There is sometimes an opportunity during the meeting to ask questions of the speaker or to discuss the Bible teaching and we offer supper after the service for anyone attending.

For those who know Christ and express a desire to attend regularly, there are also midweek fellowship groups in which smaller groups of church members can meet to pray together, encourage each other, share concerns and discuss in more detail the talk from the week before and the application of God's word to their lives. Alternatively a group also meets midweek to a study the book of Romans over the course of a year.

Christmas Dinner

A traditional Christmas meal and a talk

The St John's

     Christmas Dinner     

is on Saturday 29th November.

It's more like an Advent Dinner this year, but there's still the traditional Christmas meal followed by a short talk on the significance of Christmas.

All welcome. Booking details to be announced.

Diary Dates

Autumn 2008

Fellowship dinners - 15 Oct, 12 Nov

Welcome dinners - 9 Oct, 6 Nov

What Christians Believe - 11 NOv, 18 Nov, 25 Nov, 2 Dec

Advent dinner - 29 Nov

Children's nativity service - 7 Dec, 10:30 am

Carols by candlelight - 14 Dec, 21 Dec, both at 7:00 pm

Family Carol service - 24 Dec at 4:00 pm

Christmas Day family service - 25 Dec at 9:30 am

Our current Sermon Series

The New Covenant foretold

Christmas Services

  Christmas Services at St John's over the Christmas/New Year period  

Sundays 14th and 21st December at 7:00 pm - Carols by candlelight

Wednesday 24th December at 4:00pm - Family Carols

Thursday 25th December at 9:30am - All Age Christmas Day Service

Our current sermon series (including Easter services)

Chocolate egg or Christian Discipleship

Welcome dinners

A chance for anyone new to St John's to be welcomed into the church family, meet people and hear more about the Christian faith.

Throughout the year, e-mail office@sjdh.org for details.

Hire of Buildings

Children's Parties

The Undercroft area of the buildings is available for booking for children's parties and other events by negotiation.

Initial enquiries about availability can be made to the bookings administrator by email to michael@sjdh.org or by phone to 020 7099 9365.

Fellowship Dinners

20 May, 17 June, 15 July

Faith in the Local Church conference, 5-7 June

Spurring one another on to be the churches God would have us be

Morning Sermon Series

Who is the LORD that I should obey him?

Foundations Course

What Christians Believe

As its name suggests, What Christians Believe is an opportunity many have found helpful to explore the heart of the Christian faith. It is a short foundations course run over four Tuesday evenings which looks at some key questions and the Bible's answers to them.

Although there is plenty of opportunity for asking questions and discussion, there is no obligation to read aloud or pray. All are welcome from those entirely new to the Christian faith to those who would welcome a refresher course. The topics are:

Week 1: What is God like?
Week 2: Who is Jesus?
Week 3: What's gone wrong with the world?
Week 4: How can I know God?

The next course starts in the new year and runs for four Tuesdays. Please contact the church office if you are interested in joining the course.

The sessions start at 8pm (7.45 for coffee and cake). There is a short talk followed by a chance to discuss what has been said. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal and sessions will finish by 9.30pm. If you would like to join us or for more details please contact the church office (see Contact Us page for details).

Home

Welcome

There has been a group of Christians meeting to worship the God of the Bible at St John's  Downshire Hill since October 1823. Today Christians continue to meet together at this Grade 1 listed building on Sundays and during the week with the aim of knowing Jesus better and making him better known.  Through meeting to hear God's word taught, prayer and partnership in proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ, the members of St John's are committed to the growth of God's Kingdom in Hampstead and throughout the world.  Whether you would like to join us for a Sunday meeting or attend a short course to find out more about  What Christians Believe, we would be delighted to welcome you.

Families and Toddlers

Easter Holiday Club!

Our Easter Holiday Club is running from Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th April, for two hours from 10.00-12.00 each morning.

It is open to all children aged 4-11. We plan unusual and exhilarating games, crafts, songs and activities based around exciting episodes from the Bible and these clubs usually prove to be very popular so do let the church office know if you would like to register your child in advance.

Midweek Clubs for Children

We run several clubs for children at St John's. All of them are free of charge and new children are always welcome. For details about these clubs or any of the children's work at St John's please contact Isobel Mott at the church office

(tel 020 7099 9360 or contact us here).

We take issues of child protection very seriously and our clubs are all overseen by those with CRB checks. To see a copy of our child protection policy contact the church office.

After School Club

This is our club that runs after school on Tuesday afternoons during term time. It is a warm and welcoming club for children in  School Years 1, 2 and 3. We hear great things from the Bible and we have great fun too as we play games, sing songs and make crafts.

Spring Term dates:  12th January to 23rd March (Two week Half Term break: not meeting on 9th February or 16th February)

Awesome!

Awesome! is a club for children in School Years 4, 5 and 6. We meet on Fridays during term time from 5.30-6.50 with the aim of delighting in and discovering more about our awesome God. There are drinks, snacks, games and various activities centring on exciting episodes from the Bible.

Spring Term dates: 8th January to 26th March (Two week Half Term break: not meeting on 12th February or 19th February)

Aliens

Aliens is our youth group for 11-14 year olds (those in School Years 7, 8 and 9). We meet at the church from 7.00-8.30 on Friday nights during term time. There are all sorts of games and activities but most importantly we aim to have a great time looking at the Bible together to learn more of Christ and what it means to follow him.

Anchored

Anchored is our new group for 14-18 year olds (those in School Years 10, 11, 12 and 13).  We meet at St John's at 6.00pm on Sundays for the evening service, supper, discussion and games, finishing up at about 8.30pm. The first meeting of term is on Sunday 10th January. We welcome both those who have grown up knowing Jesus and newcomers who are just interested to find out what the Bible says about him. Come and join us!