Our purpose is to worship God and grow disciples of Jesus who share God’s love in the world.
St John’s is the Church of England Parish Church for the Parish of Greenhill, which is the town centre of Harrow [map of parish]. We are part of the Diocese of London, and within the diocese our Area Bishop is Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, the Area Bishop of Willesden.
Photo Gallery
A transcript of the names on the War Memorials is available here.
Honouring the Past
Greenhill was growing—the population in 1902 was 4,892—and the brick church was beginning to subside, as well as being too small. The current building was begun in 1904 from designs by the architect John S. Alder, extended in 1925 and finished in 1938, to a modified design by the architect Martin Travers. It has recently been made a Grade II listed building. (Nothing remains of the first church except five stained glass windows from its east end, which are now in the Choir Vestry.) Tommy Smith had made the building up of the parish and the completion of the new church his life’s work; he however resigned because of ill health in 1933, dying later that year. The completion of the building took place under the second vicar, Rev. H. Wolferstan Beck (vicar 1933–44). Since then St John’s has had eleven more vicars. Two of the vicars went on to become bishops: George Ingle (vicar 1944–48) was later Bishop of Fulham and of Willesden; and Joost de Blank (vicar 1948–52) was later Bishop of Stepney and Archbishop of Cape Town. In 2024–25 an extension was added at the west end of the church, providing a meeting room (the Skylight Room) and three much-needed lavatories.
The work of St John’s has changed greatly over the last hundred years. Until about thirty years ago the continuous building of houses and flats meant that the parish was mainly residential: the church’s electoral roll reached its peak in 1957 with a total of 1,369 members. Since then, the growth of the shopping centre and changes in the make-up of the population mean that the church’s ministry is increasingly to shoppers and town centre workers, and to people of other faiths or of none. Co-operation with the other churches of central Harrow has grown considerably, with many joint activities and services. The size of the building means that it is often in demand for civic services and other major events such as ordinations. St John’s people have never believed that the task of ministering to those who live and work in Harrow is to be left to the clergy. In the 1940s and 1950s the parish was divided into areas, each with a leader to look out for those in need and welcome newcomers. Nowadays the church is again open for some part of most days, stewarded by volunteers.
St John’s has also had a strong musical tradition, allowing the choir to offer its own music as part of the worship while leaving plenty of opportunities for the congregation; and for the last fifty years there have been fortnightly lunch-time concerts on Thursdays, attracting into the church many people we would not otherwise see. As well as worshipping God in music, we use the beautiful building we have inherited, with its stained glass windows, and the flowers which often decorate it, as ways to give God glory by offering the best of what we can do with what he has given us. But buildings and flowers and music are only means to an end. Our aim is to love God and seek his Kingdom: to tell others of what he has done and so to live with him in this life that we will be with him for ever in the next. Will you join us?
1885–1933 Rev. Thomas Smith (Curate in charge till 1896, then Vicar)
1933–1944 Rev. H. Wolferstan Beck
1944–1948 Rev. George Ingle
1948–1952 Rev. Joost de Blank
1952–1958 Rev. John D. Richards
1958–1962 Rev. J. R. Maxwell Johnstone
1963–1972 Rev. Albert E. Prebble
1973–1981 Rev. Peter Smith
1981–1991 Rev. Kenneth F. Toovey
1993–2004 Rev. John F. Spinks (Priest in Charge till 1996, then Vicar)
2005–2011 Rev. Rayner A. Wakeling
2012–2024 Rev. Barry D. Hingston (Priest in Charge till 2014, then Vicar)
2025– Rev. Wendy E. Wall
The Church for the Parish of Greenhill (Harrow Town Centre), on the corner of Station Road and Sheepcote Road. Nearest station: Harrow on the Hill.
