St Helier News

As part of a mission weekend visiting places, projects and churches around the Southwark Diocese from 4-6 October, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby visited Church Army’s St Helier Centre of Mission. Archbishop Justin was joining in with events in different contexts and traditions, learning about the people and projects and sharing in the rich diversity across the Diocese.  

Church Army’s St Helier Centre of Mission sits in the St Helier Estate in South London, and was launched in 2021 with Tracy Marlow as the Lead Evangelist. Tracy has since been joined by Hayley and Rachel, who are Pioneer Evangelists. The estate is recognised as having high levels of deprivation, unemployment, single parents, elderly people and people with long-term disabling illness, and large parts of the parish are among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.

Responding to the context and listening to the needs of the St Helier Estate community, the team launched three streams of activities: Active St Helier, Social St Helier and Spiritual St Helier. In these different streams, the team run various forms of activities, groups and outreach, including Zumba and art for wellbeing, a community cafe and advice, a bereavement group and a choir, the Alpha course and discipleship groups including one which is piloting the new Estates Evangelism course Magnify.  

The St Helier Centre of Mission intentionally reaches, touches and includes many people who are often excluded from spaces in wider society, people who are vulnerable and struggling in different ways. It was here that Archbishop Justin visited on 4 October and these people that he met.

In a conversation with Emma Sivyer, Church Army Mission Development Officer, Tracy described the planning and preparation for the Archbishop’s visit, the day itself and the impact it had on both the Archbishop and the community. It was clear in the way Tracy spoke, how much the day had meant for her and how well it had gone. Tracy said, “it was more than we could have hoped for or imagined”, with more people coming than expected, many whom were not from the church community, but were slightly removed, being partners of choir members or friends of people involved, council workers and family members. “So there’s the friends of the friends of the friends of Jesus coming”, Tracy said.  

Amy*, a 13-year old girl who helps lead worship at the church, opened the event and shook Archbishop Justin’s hand, and a time to hear testimonies followed, including hearing from Beth*, a member of the church community, who told her incredibly moving testimony about trauma, hardship, forgiveness and acceptance. Beth’s sister, Megan*, shared her testimony by singing Lauren Daigle’s ‘You Say’, and another testimony was shared from someone who attends the community café and Alpha course, in the form of poetry. Archbishop Justin was visibly moved by what was shared and told Beth that “my story’s not dissimilar to yours”. He then opened up by telling stories of difficult times in his own life, talking about God’s presence, absence and love.  

Tracy described how the people who attended the event felt seen and valued, having been surprised that the Archbishop was coming to visit them and their community.

““So why’s he coming to us?” And we were able to say, “Because you’re special”.”  

Tracy, with a lump in her throat, said “I think this estate was seen”, and that meant a lot to the people from the estate, to Tracy and her team, who all felt affirmed and valued by the visit and the response.  

At another point in the day, people were invited to go to the front to be prayed for and anointed with oil by the Archbishop and other leaders. Tracy spoke of being surprised about how many people lined up to be anointed, including people who were somewhat removed from church, engaging with the spiritual elements of prayer and anointing. Someone has since told Jo*, one of the members of the church, that when he went up for the prayers, “something happened, I don’t know what it was…when he prayed for me and anointed me with oil, I just got this feeling that I’ve never had”, and Jo was able to suggest that it was the Holy Spirit moving.  

“They came to see the Archbishop, but they met Jesus” Tracy said.  

To find out more about the incredible and inspiring work that takes place in the St Helier Centre of Mission, click here or get in touch with us.  

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

Photo credits to Andrew Moss.