We are sent into the world, like Jesus, to serve.
For this is the natural expression of our love for our neighbours.
We love. We go. We serve.
John Stott
History
All Souls Serve the City was founded in January 2021, but our roots go back much further. Since its consecration in 1824, All Souls Church has always taken seriously its calling to serve its parish in word and deed.
This calling flourished in the 1950s while John Stott was Rector of All Souls Church (1950-1975). During this time, John Stott established All Souls Clubhouse, a community centre intended to serve the parish in practical ways as the church held out the good news of Jesus to the people who lived there.
From the 1950s until 2021, many projects were set up by All Souls Church and All Souls Clubhouse to serve our most vulnerable neighbours. Over the years we have run projects with children and youth, addicts, the elderly, the homeless, and women caught in the sex industry. We have hosted countless meals, handed out countless items of clothing, and befriended countless men, women and children who – because of life stage or circumstance – have found themselves in a state of particular vulnerability.
In 2021, all of the projects which had been run either by All Souls Church, or All Souls Clubhouse, were brought together in a brand new CIO called All Souls Serve the City. This allows us to run and govern each project with excellence, and in time will allow us to incubate new projects which serve more people in need in our community.
Whilst All Souls Serve the City is now the home of all our projects, we are firmly rooted in the life and history of our church family at All Souls.
Vision and values
Our vision is to see everyone in London flourish in body and soul.
Our mission is to serve the isolated, overlooked and exploited in London, bringing the message and ministry of Jesus.
Our values are love, honour, and service.
Love: We love this city and everyone in it
We love because he first loved us - 1 John 4:19
Honour: We seek to honour and respect all, especially those who are isolated, overlooked and exploited due to stage of life or circumstances.
Honour one another above yourselves - Romans 12:10
Service: We give our lives away in the service of others
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many - Mark 10:45
Hot off the press: we are launching our first ever strategic plan for our umbrella organisation, All Souls Serve the City. Beginning in September 2024, and over the coming three years, we will be working towards various goals, aiming to have the greatest impact overall. One highlight for us is to emerge as leaders of “Christian befriending”. More to come!
There is much to do to serve our city: will you join us?