Ordinations of Priests at St Paul’s Church Newington
St Paul's Interior Altar Side
Saturday 5th July at 11.00am
A warm welcome to St Paul’s Church, Lorrimore Square!
Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate with Bethany Austin, Wayne Barron, Alex Garziglia, Jo McCrone, Anna Mills, and Owen Morgan.
The church you are in has a fascinating history, embodying over 150 years of faith, fiery controversy, devastating loss, and triumphant rebirth. Our story begins in the mid-19th century, a time of explosive growth for London and profound change within the Church of England. Consecrated in 1865, the original St Paul’s was a grand statement in the then-fashionable Gothic Revival style.
This new spiritual home for the rapidly expanding community of Walworth quickly became a bastion of something more specific and, to some, provocative: the Anglo-Catholic movement. Embracing ritual, sacramental theology, and aesthetics reminiscent of Roman Catholicism, St Paul’s became a leading light of the “High Church” tradition.
A key element of the new design was its practical mission: the creation of a dedicated space beneath the worship area to serve young people in the area. This became the Cross Swords Youth Club, a vibrant hub of activity and support that served generations of local youth over many decades.
Today, as the needs of Walworth evolve, so too does the vision. The ground-floor space is now being reimagined as a flexible community hub, a place of gathering, creativity, support and hospitality at the heart of Lorrimore Square. Meanwhile, in the church above, the tradition of joyful and sacramental worship continues. St Paul’s remains a living testimony to the enduring hope of the gospel, and a vibrant, inclusive community committed to faith, service, and renewal.
St Paul’s Church
Lorrimore Square
London SE17 3QU
