With the redevelopment of the old Railway Engineering Yards into the new Stratford City, the coming of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and the Olympic Games in 2012, the area has taken on a new life and vitality. The area has always been a, largely happy, melting pot of cultures and races and an influx of refugees and immigrants from Eastern Europe has recently, once again, brought new culture and new ideas. Things are looking up.

At St John's congregations have increased even more. The average attendance is now 280 adults and children on a Sunday morning, and 70 adults in the evening, with up to 550 people for special services. We are pleased that our congregation is very multi-cultural, reflecting the community around us. The Church building is also open every day with morning and evening prayer, lunchtime and midweek services for people who work in Stratford. The nature of ministry at St John's has changed greatly over the past few years. The building is a hive of activity once again - a place for prayer, for meetings, for concerts, and also a place for peace and quiet in a busy town centre.

In 1834 St John's was built to serve the Stratford community. Over 170 years later and that community has changed again and again. St John's has changed too - the building has been extended twice, and the pattern of services has also changed. However, the basic reason for St John's existence has not changed. St John's is part of the worldwide Christian Church, dedicated to spreading the good news that Jesus Christ came to earth over 2000 years ago, that he died for our sins on the cross, that he rose again from death to life and that he lives for ever and still has the power to change lives.

St John's is a living witness to that message.

Dave Richards, Chris Aubrey & Garry Walker