St Johns
Churches in Cape Town

Unity in diversity, Family of families, Christ-centred, Mission-shaped. We mainly have organ led worship or sometimes from the piano. We follow an Anglican shaped service order with contemporary praise and worship, expository bible teaching, with an emphasis on interaction. Our children join us at the beginning of the service and for communion. We are a diverse group of people from a variety of backgrounds and we value being together as brothers and sisters in Christ. As their numbers grew it became necessary to build a church. The church was built and first consecrated in During these years St John's strove to establish a place of evangelical worship in the Wynberg area, as opposed to the Anglo-catholic stance of the Anglican diocese under Bishop Robert Gray. In 1897 land was purchased in Diep River for the building of St Luke’s Church. These five churches were overseen by a Parish Rector, who was also the Minister-in-charge of St John’s church. St John’s pursued its evangelical tradition and needed the offices of a Bishop, but wished to remain within the Anglican Communion. Numerous approaches were initiated by various parties to work towards a relationship between St John’s Parish and the Anglican Diocese. The CPSA restored it's link with the Church of England (in England) under the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury. St John’s Parish enjoys a good relationship with the Anglican diocese, and by this association is part of the broader Anglican Communion. This relationship is still in force and serves the Parish well. In the 1970s the charismatic movement had a profound effect on the life of St John’s Church and Parish. The gifts of the Holy Spirit were exercised regularly in formal worship and in smaller groups. Through the teaching and evangelistic gifts of a series of highly talented ministers, a large and active congregation worshipped at St John’s Church. Through the 1980's St John’s spoke out strongly against the injustices of the apartheid regime and became a focus of support and unity. Forced removals under the Group Areas Act and various other factors eventually resulted in a marked reduction in the size of the congregation. The clergy concentrated on healing deep wounds and on encouraging and equipping the remaining congregation to continue to grow spiritually and fulfill its mission. Healing and strengthening relationships within the Parish family was pursued. Major efforts were employed to build up the church as a place to which families and young children could come, and to change the worship to a more contemporary style which was welcoming and attractive to the youth. Many displaced people from central African countries have found a home at St John’s Church. Their numbers have grown and they participate energetically in the life of the church. The fruits of rebuilding and reconciliation started to become realised as the first decade of the 21st century progressed. New full-time staff positions of Youth Pastor and Children’s Worker needed to be, and were, created. God's grace and provision is evident in St Johns' 180-year history and we continue to experience His unfailing love and generosity to this day. The makeup of this church is multi-cultural and multi-generational which is a blessing, despite occasional challenges.