Welcome to the Parish Church of S. Paul’s, Deptford.

We are

warm and welcoming,

diverse and inclusive,

traditional and contemporary,

anglo-catholic in tradition,

committed to prayer and justice.

The Daily Office and Holy Mass are celebrated daily.



S. Paul’s Parish takes in the heart of the Deptford Community,
 which is a colourful, exciting, energetic, edgy, mature, complex
 and fascinating place. It has one of the most diverse ethnic
 communities in London (fully represented in our congregation), a higher than average population of younger people, multiple economic deprivation, (we are the 12,035 most deprived parish of 12,706 Parishes in England, and within the Diocese of Southwark, 283rd most deprived out of 292 Parishes, where 1 is the least deprived. (See http://www.cuf.org.uk/povertyinengland); a strong creative arts sector, a classic South London High Street with a famous thrice weekly Market.

Our Episcopally agreed priorities (2007) for the next five years:


1. To keep worship is at the centre of everything we do.


2. To serve the people of Deptford.


3. To ensure the full participation of every church member who 
belongs to S. Paul’s.


Our 1730 Grade 1 Listed Church by the Architect Thomas Archer, and described by John Betjeman as "a pearl at the heart of Deptford", is a remarkable and important example of English Italianate Baroque.

The church is one of those built following the 1711 Act for building new churches in London and its suburbs. These are generally known as the Queen Anne churches. Other Queen Anne churches include, James Gibbs', St. Mary-le-Strand, John James', St George's, Hanover Square and Nicholas Hawksmoor's churches at S. Alfege, Greenwich; Christ Church, Spitalfields; S. Ann's, Limehouse and S. George's in the East. http://nationalchurchestrust.org/how-you-can-help/1711.php

Archer was specifically influenced by two churches in the Historic Centre of Rome: the Interior by Francesco Borromini’s restyling of S. Agnese in Agone, Piazza Navona using Corinthian pillars, 1653 onwards, and the Portico by the semi-cicular Porch of S. Maria della Pace, (which is just off the Piazza Navona) by Pietro da Cortona, constructed 1656-1661. The Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England has referred to S. Paul's as one of London's finest Baroque buildings. According to Simon Jenkins (England's Thousand Best Churches) "S. Paul's is a building that foreigners can never credit as being English. The exterior is Baroque of astonishing vigour, with giant classical orders on all sides." S. Paul's comes "closer to Borromini and the Roman Baroque than any other English church of this date." (Pevsner). The church is dramatically preserved and recently restored, (between 2000-2004), in its spacious and peaceful churchyard.

Donations to S. Paul's

You are invited to make a donation to the glory of God and the work of this Parish Church. It costs £1,000 a week to run S. Paul’s and all of this money has to be raised locally by the congregation. If you are a UK Taxpayer please put your monetary gift into a Gift Aid envelope, and write your own name and address on the envelope. This will enable us to claim back the tax on your gift for our work. Please give generously. Thankyou.

Fr Paul Butler

Rector

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