St John's Wood Church

St John's Wood Church is an Anglican parish church in north-west London, set in the leafy district that takes its name from it. Built in the early nineteenth century, it began life as a modest chapel and grew into the heart of the local parish. Its story is tied closely to two things Londoners know well: a burial ground turned public garden, and the home of cricket nearby.

When and why was St John's Wood Church built?

In 1808 the Marylebone parish vestry bought a plot of land north of the New Road to use as a burial ground. A chapel was needed to serve it, and the architect Thomas Hardwick, who was also working on the new St Marylebone parish church, designed the building. The chapel was consecrated on 24 May 1814. At that time it was a chapel of ease, meaning a subsidiary church that spared parishioners the longer walk to St Marylebone Parish Church.

What is the connection with Lord's Cricket Ground?

The date of consecration coincided with Thomas Lord moving his cricket ground to its present site, just a short distance away. According to the church's own history, the congregation was invited to "Mr Lord's new cricket ground" for refreshments after the service. Another account says Lord offered his new pavilion for the celebrations. It is a neat piece of London trivia that a church consecration and the arrival of the world's most famous cricket venue in this part of the city happened in the same year. Note that Lord had first set up a ground in 1780 elsewhere, so 1814 marks the move to this neighbourhood, not the founding of the club's ground.

What happened to the burial ground?

The burial ground attached to the church was eventually closed to new burials, handed over to the local authority and laid out as a public park. Today the churchyard garden is a quiet green space beside a busy part of town, and a pleasant place to sit before or after seeing the church.

How did it become a parish church?

For most of its early history the building remained a chapel. It became a parish church in its own right in 1952, after bomb damage in the Second World War left St Stephen's in Avenue Road unusable. The congregation of that church was brought together with this one, and St John's Wood Church has served the parish ever since.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, especially if you are exploring the area on foot. The church sits in one of the calmer, greener parts of central London, within reach of Regent's Park and Lord's. It suits visitors interested in Regency-era church architecture, in London's parish history, or in the unexpected overlap between faith and sport. Check the parish's published times before you go, because the building is an active place of worship and access depends on services and events.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed St John's Wood Church? Thomas Hardwick, who also designed St Marylebone parish church.

When was it consecrated? On 24 May 1814.

Is it connected to Lord's? Only by timing and neighbourhood: the consecration coincided with Thomas Lord's move to his current ground, and the congregation was invited there for refreshments afterwards.

Is it a parish church today? Yes. It has held that status since 1952.

Where is it? In the St John's Wood district of north-west London, in the City of Westminster, close to Regent's Park.