St Johns on the Broadway

St John’s-on-the-Broadway

St John’s-on-the-Broadway is a community hub and flexible worship space set on the historic Broadway shopping parade in the heart of the Debden estate. This represents a new vision for how St John’s engages with and ministers to those we have been called to serve, as Christ’s command to love God and our neighbour leads us from the church building into the community to forge new relationships and respond to the real needs of those living and working in Debden.

St John’s-on-the-Broadway (SJotB) is a space which is open to all, with a core programme of activities catering to particular groups and needs – after-school youth clubs, pensioners’ coffee mornings, a mental health support group, and CV/job clubs just for starters. We are also working to develop partnerships with other local agencies, to provide specialist advice and support in matters such as debt and housing, problems at work and domestic abuse. Even as we help to address these needs, however, our primary purpose is to learn about the human stories behind them; to share in the lives and hopes and concerns of the people of Debden, and to work with them to shape their own community and future.

It is on this basis that SJotB is available for use by other local groups, and as time goes on we hope it will become a centre of community organising where residents can come together to discuss and take action around matters affecting the whole community. Listening to people, responding to need, supporting and empowering – in all these ways we want SJotB to be a transforming presence in the heart of Debden, a sign of unity and positive change for everyone who lives in and loves this corner of God’s Kingdom.

We are always keen to hear from people who would like to be involved in the work of SJotB, either running new activities or volunteering to help with our existing groups. Please get in touch with Holly on sjob.stjohns@gmail.com or Reverend Davies on rector.stjohnsloughton@gmail.com.