| St John's Hoxton | |
| St John the Baptist with Christ Church, Hoxton |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Hoxton, London Borough of Hackney |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www.stjohnshoxton.org.uk |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | The Haberdashers' Company[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Francis Edwards |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St John the Baptist with Christ Church, Hoxton[2] |
| Diocese | London |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Bishop(s) | Richard Chartres; Adrian Newman (Suffragan Bishop of Stepney) |
| Archdeacon | Rachel Treweek (Hackney)[3] |
| Vicar(s) | Graham Hunter |
The Church of St John the Baptist, Hoxton, usually known as St John's Hoxton, is an urban Anglican church in Hoxton, Hackney, a host borough of London2012. Nearby the church are Aske Gardens and Silicon Roundabout, although Hoxton is perhaps now better known for its nightlife and creative arts community.
Completed in 1826, it is the only church built to the design of Francis Edwards, one of Sir John Soane's foremost pupils. A Georgian building in the Classical style, St John's is a large example of a Commissioners' church, retaining its floor plan intact as well as its galleries. The church's décor is notable (in particular its painted ceiling) and executed by the prominent architect Joseph Arthur Reeve in the early 20th century.
In Victorian London the parish's work was recognised by social campaigners, not least the philanthropist Charles Booth, for its welfare work in a deteriorating inner-city environment. To give opportunities to the "local poor", the first vicar founded what became London's largest savings bank and St John's National Schools,[4] which still thrive. From its popular Sunday Schools[5] the church sent many missionaries to Africa and Asia, among them the first Bishop of Chota Nagpur,[6] the Rt Revd Jabez Cornelius Whiteley, whose father was chaplain to the Haberdashers' Aske's Hospital School formerly located in Pitfield Street. The maternal great-great-grandfather of Kate Middleton (now the Duchess of Cambridge), John Goldsmith, was married to Esther Jones at St John's in 1850.
A child-friendly church,[7] St John's welcomes people from all backgrounds. It includes a multi-ethnic congregation with many young people and families and is proud of its Sunday School. The church also provides crèche-facilities. Hoxton War Memorial[8] stands outside Hoxton Overground Station in Geffrye Street.[9]
Sunday services are at 10.15am and 6.30pm.