St Andrew's Church

Church of England, Diocese of Chelmsford

Profile The Parish St Andrew’s is the smallest parish in the Waltham Forest deanery with a population of 3,100 - on the edges of Epping Forest and the East End of London. We are a 15 minute walk from Leytonstone tube Station and within easy access of the A406 North Circular Road and the M11 Motorway. For more details see map. Half the parish is Epping Forest land and the remainder consists of mainly terraced housing. The church which was built between 1887 and 1893 in order to meet the growing demand for a large church in the area lies within the Conservation Area of Leytonstone People In addition to the vicar, St Andrew’s is served by a Reader (Diana Kennedy) and had one lay member who  pursued her vocation to the ordained ministry and is now on the tema ministry in Epping.  Lay ministries include people who administer the chalice and a member who is working with the Deanery Children’s Development Worker on setting up youth work at St Andrew’s. The congregation play an important role in the worship including reading the lessons, leading the intercessions and running a Sunday school. St. Andrew’s has a strong choral tradition continuing down to the present day choir. Links with others St Andrew’s is a member of the ‘Leytonstone “Group” of churches’. The parish is also working with the St Catherine and St Paul’s, Leyton on running an Alpha course at the Cornerstone Church in Canterbury Road. Links with Wipps Cross hospital are strong. This involves taking part in events and services in the Retreat (formerly the Chapel in the hospital). There are also a number of nurses in the congregation. There is a Hindu Temple in the parish, but there are no personal links. St Andrew’s is close to Leytonstone School which has used the hall for examinations. St Andrew’s is also located within a Conservation area and there is involvement with the community, especially over planning considerations for building on land behind the church. The Forest Residents Association occasionally uses the choir vestry and the hall for meetings. Several congregation members are actively involved in the local community. These include: the chair of FORA the Local Residents Association; a scout leader who is also site manager at a major UK Scouts camp; a PCC member who also runs a crèche three days per week; and a member who runs the thriving Cafe refresh  which is widely supported by the local community . Unique selling points St Andrew’s is made up of a cross section of people from all walks of life and representing different cultures, backgrounds, talents, ethnicities, and characters. People think differently but blend and work together. It is notable how people who are extremely high-church and those who are evangelical are able to work well together. The worship is traditionally high-church with a degree of solemnity, but there is also a light heartedness and relaxed atmosphere within this formality. This mix seems to meet the needs of the diverse congregation. There is an accommodation of different people’s views. It is very important that we give a welcome to people who are and think and believe differently from ourselves. This “unity in diversity” is evident at PCC level where the ability to present different ideas and debate them properly and in a spirit of good humour has been demonstrated. This is a struggle which can at times be painful, but St Andrew’s has faced this challenge and worked on it rather than avoided it. In general the community is open to growth and change, seeking to promote renewal and transformation. In the past, the church and all that took place within it was seen as separate from the hall and community even though it was contained within one building. In recent years St Andrew’s has worked at developing the ‘openness’ of the church in a very practical way. The doors dividing church from the hall are now often open for events in the hall; which has given people the opportunity to venture into the church. The church is no longer seen as something - ‘on the other side of the screen’. There is even an idea to get rid of the doors between the church and the hall altogether and replace them with a glass divider so that people can see in and be a part of what is happening within the church space. In general, the church has become more inclusive, one where no one is marginalised or excluded and where people enjoy a sense of welcome. St Andrew’s members would like to continue to develop more in their service to others, not just to the elderly and youth but also the community as a whole. The aspiration is to be a church that is there for the community, perhaps to introduce a coffee bar within the hall space and create a presence that is not too ‘Christian’ but more a place of retreat. The church community seeks to be a beacon of God’s love by actions as much as by words to all people irrespective of their faiths and beliefs. Buildings The church is a Grade II listed building built between 1887 and 1893 as a memorial church to William Cotton, a local resident, by his son, Henry a distinguished Lord Justice of Appeal. It was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and was re-ordered in the 1970s to create a space which can serve as a separate hall or be opened up to form the full dimensions of the church. It has a fine variety of stained glass windows, many of which are by Margaret Chilton, and an organ renowned for its tonal qualities, built in 1914 and currently undergoing repairs . However there is need for repair to the fabric of the building, especially to the guttering and roof and the parish is at present anticipating a grant from English Heritage to complete these repairs within the next few years. Nevertheless the building is still well used by the community including a karate club, the scouts, a dancing group, another church on a Sunday afternoon, children’s parties, the Forest Residents Association and a Preschool. There is a problem with efficient use of the building as there can only be one user in the building at any time. Deanery St Andrew’s, even though a small parish, is actively involved in the deanery. Recently, a member has helped to facilitate the Deanery Mission away day, another has been on the Standing/Pastoral committee, and we are in the process of hosting a deanery Child Protection Day.  For any other requests, queries or other events, visit us in Colworth Road, London, E11 1JD, contact our Priest-in-Charge Father Duncan Dalais at duncan.dalais@virgin.net or any of the Churchwardens directly. For editorial suggestions please contact webmaster@standrewsleytonstone.org or leave comments or suggestions here