Welcome

It’s been a tough few weeks for Waterloo. Despite Government rescue packages, we realise many of you are still facing uncertainty in all its post Covid forms. At St John’s we’re pleased to be opening the doors again and hope we can be here for our local communities, residents, businesses, hospital staff, students, in whatever way you need us. So next time you’re passing, drop in, sanitise and say hello. 

We’re open 10am-2pm weekdays and for services on Sundays.

Florence on Festivalcast

Local MP Florence Eshalomi gives an in-depth interview to young Waterloo activist Maelo Manning. Hear what she’s pressing for in Parliament including Covid recovery initiatives that don’t reinforce racism and laws to allow councils to use empty properties to solve the housing crisis. Did you know there are 22,000 people waiting for housing in Lambeth? Neither did we. Thank you Florence. Thank you Maelo. Thank you Morley Radio. 

All Forum and one for all

It’s come to our attention that South Bank Forum has recently been renamed South Bank and Waterloo Forum (quite right!). Chaired by our two local MPs, the Forum meets regularly to discuss issues of local concern. It  includes representatives from South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours (SoWN), South Bank Employers Group (SBEG), South Bank Partnership and both the South Bank and We are Waterloo BIDs. Given the dizzying number of acronyms, we’re pleased that our vicar Giles Goddard (GG) is on board to spell out for us how all these people relate - as well as speaking up for what matters to readers of this newsletter.

Oh - oh...those summer...er nights

Best venue in town

Like The Shard but without the view. Like the Natural History Museum but without the dinosaurs. Like the O2 but without the hospital.  St John’s Waterloo hasn’t been likened to any of these - yet. But it is big, friendly and open for very reasonably priced room bookings! (What...you weren’t planning a team rebuilding day? Shouldn’t you be?)

When The Last Word isn’t the last word...

Remember we told you about the podcast in which our very own Daniel Gregory takes time off from running employment training at The Bridge at Waterloo to discuss important topics with friends from different cultural backgrounds? A few weeks ago, we heard what living with racism in South London is really like. Now you can catch their Last Word on parental discipline, choosing a partner, the role of social media in relationships and whether marriage is an outdated construct. Listen here or find them on  

Spotify and Apple podcasts as THELASTWORDPOD. They also have an Instagram page where they take topic suggestions: @TheLastWordPod. But honestly, after all that I’m stumped!

Secker good idea

Women of Waterloo

And finally…

Our neighbour BFI Southbank is reopening on September 1. Hurrah! But Paris is going one better and opening a socially distanced floating cinema. Le cinema sur l’eau seats people in separate boats. Soggy popcorn though.