A Southwark Church of national architectural importance in one of London’s most economically deprived neighbourhoods has been awarded significant funding for a landmark restoration and renewal programme, ‘Building Beyond: Re-Imagining Soane’.

Development funding of £438,000 has been awarded by The National Heritage Lottery Fund to help St Peter’s Church, Walworth progress its plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £3m at a later date. The remaining £1.5m needed for this landmark restoration will be raised through local fundraising, other philanthropic and grant-making sources and community partnerships.

St Peter’s Church, nestled in the vibrant community of Walworth, is Sir John Soane’s first, finest and best-preserved church - but it is deteriorating. One of three built by Soane, all in London, it is Grade 1 listed and one of Southwark’s most significant heritage assets. It’s one of only three other Grade 1 listed buildings in the Borough, including Tower Bridge. The vision for the programme is the full restoration and opening up of the building to share its heritage with everyone. I will be made fully accessible, more welcoming, flexible, and better-equipped for its work with local people.

St Peter’s is home to a vibrant, diverse congregation which is committed and generous but cash-poor, reflecting a wider community with 31% of children living in poverty. Many residents are from marginalized groups, with a high proportions of people with additional needs.

The much-loved Church and Crypt plan to become an outstanding place for celebrating the local communities’ cultural heritage and stories throughout history and today through activities shaped by them, and supported through impactful partnerships with local and national organisations.

We need your help! Please give whatever you can to help us raise our start-up fees for our National Lottery Heritage Fund bid! You can give easily, safely, and with automatic Gift Aid via our Crowdfunder page here.

Thank you for supporting this fantastic community asset, and helping us open up St Peter’s Church to more and more people!

In line with its commitment to Climate Justice, St Peter’s will reduce its carbon footprint with ambitious sustainability plans. Works will include addressing anti-social behaviour in the grounds to make them a safer and an even more enjoyable natural space for the community.

Central to the project is comprehensively tackling the repair, conservation and infrastructure improvements needed to protect this jewel in the crown of Walworth.

2025 marks 200 years since the consecration of St Peter’s, which has evolved through the generations to serve the local community.

Father Andrew Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s, Walworth says “This is a once in a generation opportunity to restore and renew our internationally significant Grade 1 listed building, home to St Peter’s Church family, a much-loved community space, and with so much potential to bring enjoyment, learning, fun, peace, rest and pride to everyone who visits - from Walworth, Southwark, and beyond.

The much-loved Church and Crypt plan to become an outstanding place for celebrating the local communities’ cultural heritage and stories throughout history and today through activities shaped by them, and supported through impactful partnerships with local and national organisations.

 “Our ambition is to restore and protect the beautiful building and architecture of Walworth’s important Soane church ready for its next two hundred years, building on the wonderful work and impact St Peter’s has today, and over previous generations.

Thank you to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players! And to everyone locally and in the Soane ‘family’ who have helped us to get to this very exciting stage, not least individuals who have donated funds towards our match-funding appeal!

And if you would like to join us on this amazing journey, please search ‘St Peter’s 200th Anniversary crowdfunder’ to find out more and support the project!”

Michael Tsoukaris MSc(Arch) MSc(CVS) RIBA, Head of Design Conservation and Transport, London Borough of Southwark said “The modest Grade I listed St Peter’s Church is not just a hidden gem designed by Sir John Soane, it is also the centre-piece of the Liverpool Grove Conservation Area at the heart of Walworth. Surrounded by Georgian houses and some of the earliest social housing blocks built in London under the guidance of Octavia Hill, it stands as a beacon of resilience and community. This grant is a true step change in prospect for this nationally important building. It means that the church can now look ahead to the next 200 years of serving its community with a confidence and a vision as clear and elegant as that of John Soane who designed it in the first place.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re pleased to give our initial support to St Peter’s Church in Walworth with their once-in-a-generation restoration project. Thanks to National Lottery players, they can continue to develop their plans to reimagine this historic building, enabling it to adapt for a sustainable future. We look forward to working with the Project Team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.”

Diana Cochrane, The Walworth Society: “The Walworth Society is delighted to learn that St Peter’s Church will receive the funding needed to take its renovation project forward. Throughout its 200-year history, St Peter’s has used the church spaces and its grounds inventively to help meet the needs of a densely populated area and its working-class community. This vital service continues to today.  The society is looking forward to working with St Peter’s to celebrate its 200-year anniversary through a series of heritage-led events and we look forward to local people being able to take part in the next stage of this truly exciting project.”

Will Gompertz, Deborah Loeb Brice Director, Sir John Soane’s Museum: “St Peter’s Church in Walworth is an important example of Sir John Soane’s innovative and visionary architecture. I am delighted the NLHF is generously supporting its renovation, so once again it can be a joy for all to behold, and play a full role as a much loved and valued community building.

Notes for Editors:

About St Peter’s Church, Walworth

St Peter’s Church, Walworth is a grade 1 listed parish church in the Church of England / Anglican Diocese of Southwark, which covers around 350 parishes from the Thames to parts of Surrey.

The Church was built in 1825 by Sir John Soane as part of the wave of church building funded by the Church Commissioners for England to build churches particularly in poor neighbourhoods.

St Peter’s Church is open during the day Monday to Thursday for visitors and the main Sunday service is the joyful Parish Mass at 10.30am. The congregation is diverse in culture, nationality, age, and St Peter’s is an actively inclusive and progressive church.

St Peter’s Church is linked to St Peter’s Church of England Primary School on Liverpool Grove, where the rector and members of the congregation serve as school governors.

St Peter’s Crypt is host to,

Saint Louie Cafe & Bakery serving delicious crypt-baked goods and great coffee and other drinks, as well as providing a rich offering of cultural events, supper clubs and gigs.

Trampoline New Horizons CIC helping local people develop their entrepreneurial skills through mentoring and business support, and their vibrant Makers’ Market.

Mental Fight Club’s Dragon Cafe offering a programme of wellbeing activities, food and music, friendship and support to the wider community.

A range of community, charity, business and individuals who hire the Crypt for a variety of artistic, wellbeing, social, and party events, as well as meetings, and as a film location.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

*Grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. St Peter’s Church, Walworth has initially been granted round one development funding of £438,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by the Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £3,112,000.

Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund

Further information

Please contact Claire Maugham, Chair of the Steering Group, St Peter’s Walworth Building Beyond

07796 175248