For over 120 years, the Parish of St Barnabas and St James the Greater, Walthamstow, has been a a centre of welcome, faith and social action in East Londoon. Originally founded to serve local  railway workers and working-class families, the parish continues its mission of radical inclusion – embracing new immigrant communities, the LGBTQ+ community, and people of every age and background. Today, in one of the most deprived areas in England, the parish partners with local organisations to tackle inequality and isolation, embodying the Gospel through hospitality, justice and practical compassion for the common good. 

Our purpose is to connect with our neighboursand create spaces  of belonging, empowerment, and wellbeing. Working with trusted partners, we run weekly community living rooms, volunteer training through the Center of Theology and Community (CTC) and Citizens UK, arts and cultural activities, and inclusive faith events, including participation in local Pride celebrations. We host warm spaces, and health engagement sessions throughout the year, ensuring that all who come through our doors – whatever their story – find welcome, dignity, and hope.

Our historic church, designed by William Douglas Caröe, lies geographically at the heart of the Queens Road and Boundary Road community, and has been the “spiritual home” or “a home away from home” for many parishioners and migrants in the community.

We have strong links to Queens Boundary Community (QBC). We often provide space for community events such as the Summer Pop-Up pub, QBC Quiz night amongst other community events.

We partner with the Centre of Theology and Community (CTC) to develop our church members faith and leadership.

We are committed members of the Waltham Forest Citizens, which is founding member of Citizens UK East London chapter.  We work in a broad based alliance across civil societh to work for the common good.

We have international links not least with the Philippines. We share a ‘companion relationship’ with the Episcopal Church of the Philippines (ECP), which enables visiting priests from the Philippines to have exposure into the working practices of clergy life in the Church of England.

We are musical! We provide venues for our local community choirs E17 Young Singers (for children) and E17 Singers (for adults), which meet every Thursday evening (during term time).

We are in partnership with St Barnabas Sunday Concerts, led by world renowned opera singers, Gillian Keith and Tom Randle. St Barnabas Sunday Concerts hold quarterly musical concerts in our beautiful Grade II listed church building.

We partner with FareShare to redistribute food products from Tesco. When we have surplus food available, it is for anyone, no questions asked. 

We have community space in the form of Foster Hall and Stafford Hall. In the evenings, Foster Hall provides different classes such as Martial Arts, Dance, Yoga. Check the QBC website for more information.

On the weekends, Foster Hall is available for hire, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon – to evening.

Our second hall, Stafford Hall also holds martial arts classes, arts and dance classes throughout the week. It is also available for hire. For enquiries as to Foster Hall and Stafford Hall hire, please contact Liz.Worham@Gmail.com

We are committed to safeguarding children and young people and all victims of abuse and vulnerable adults. Our PCC has adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practices on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England’s website (https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/promoting-safer-church-safeguarding) Our parish safeguarding officer is Leonora Doclis-Capili.