All Saints Church, Peckham facts for kids
All Saints Church is a Christian church located in Peckham, London. It is part of the Church of England and belongs to the Anglican faith. For many years, the church has been a place for people to gather and worship. In 1996, the church was almost closed because very few people were attending. However, it has grown a lot since then. Today, more than 400 adults are part of its community.
Contents
Church History
How All Saints Church Started
The church began in 1867. At that time, Peckham was a small village near Camberwell, a quiet place away from busy Victorian London. The church started with about 20 people meeting in the vicar's living room. Within a few years, the group grew to over 600 adults. There was also a special Sunday service for 800 children. The church hall and the main church building were finished in 1872. The church originally had wooden benches (called pews) for about 400 people. There was also extra space for 150 to 200 more people. (The pews were changed to chairs in 2016).
Challenges and Growth
All Saints Church grew quickly in the early 1900s. But like many churches in central London, it saw fewer people attending after World War II. By the mid-1990s, only a small number of people were left. The church was struggling, and there were plans to sell the land for new homes. The idea was to build a small worship area for the remaining members on the same spot.
In 1996, a big effort was made to save the church. The church leaders appointed a new vicar, Reverend Bob Hurley. He believed that the church could be full again. He and the small group of members decided to fight against the closure plans. The Bishop of Southwark agreed to a challenge: if Reverend Hurley could double the 20-person group and install a heating system within two years, the church would stay open. Reverend Hurley met both goals in just six months! The church was saved and grew quickly in the years that followed. Reverend Hurley even wrote a book about this amazing turnaround.
New Leaders and Community Work
In 2002, Reverend Hurley moved to a new role. In 2003, Reverend Francis Orr-Ewing became the new vicar. During his time, even more people joined All Saints. The church team grew, and its work in the community became more well-known.
Reverend Orr-Ewing left in May 2010 to start a new church. His last service was shown live on BBC1. Two more services from All Saints, part of the BBC Songs of Praise show, were recorded and shown in September 2010 and February 2011.
In July 2011, Reverend Jonathan Mortimer became the new vicar. Before this, he worked with churches across Britain, helping them with their local community efforts.
On August 14, 2011, the church held an important meeting. Community leaders and faith groups came together. This was followed by a special Service for Peace. It was organized with other local groups to respond to the riots in Peckham. Many leaders spoke at the service, including Simon Hughes MP and the Bishop of Southwark. Even the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, sent a message of support.
In 2015, the church started looking into how it could continue to help Peckham. They wanted to find ways to "make space for good" in the area.
Worship Services
All Saints Church holds two services every Sunday. The morning service is at 10:30 AM, and the evening service is at 6:00 PM. Before the evening service, there is a cafe at 5:30 PM. There is also a service during the week on Tuesdays at 11:15 AM. The services have a lively and modern style of worship. In 2005, the church released its first live worship CD, called Your Favour.
Homegroups
Over the last ten years, small groups called homegroups have become very important at All Saints. These groups meet during the week in different homes around the local area. They help the church community stay connected and grow. As more people have joined All Saints, the number of homegroups has also increased.
Helping the Community
All Saints Church works a lot with children and young people. Through its many kids' and youth clubs and its involvement with schools, the church connects with about 600 children every week. The church has also been part of big community projects. These include 'Soul in the City' in 2004 and 'God Loves Peckham' in 2006 and 2007. Between 2007 and 2009, All Saints offered drama and football classes for children aged 5-11. They also worked with a local club during their summer outreach weeks.
Prince Charles visited the church in July 2010. He praised the church for its great work in the community. His visit was also shown on the BBC Songs of Praise episodes in September 2010 and February 2011.
Church Name
The official name of the church is All Saints, Camberwell. However, most people know it as All Saints Peckham. This is the name it is usually called, except for official paperwork with the church leaders.
Church Connections
All Saints Church is part of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. It is also connected to other groups:
- the New Wine Network
- the Evangelical Alliance
- Fusion (a student movement).
