London’s Floating Church: Supporting Christians at Work

Until the mid-1960s Canary Wharf was a warehouse storing exotic goods from the Canary Islands in Docklands, at the heart of one of the world’s largest and busiest ports. But by the end of the 1970s all that was over - the docks had closed down and the area had become an urban wasteland. Proposals for regeneration of the area were derided by many and when in 1988 foundation work began at Canary Wharf it was widely assumed that whatever emerged on it was sure to become a white elephant. As it happens things have turned out somewhat differently.

In 1991 the first tenants moved in and Canary Wharf is now one of Europe’s premier business districts. The iconic pyramid-topped main tower is the tallest in Britain at 244 metres and rises above an underground shopping mall which is the second largest within the M25. Canary Wharf now boasts a skyline that would not look out of place alongside that of Manhattan as more and more companies move to this prestigious location, home now to some 93,000 workers.

Vision for Canary Wharf

But business developers were not the only ones who had a vision for the area. A large part of Canary Wharf lies in the parish of St Anne’s Limehouse and as the number of daily commuters to the Wharf grew, so did the desire of local Christians to reach them with the gospel. A Bible-study began in a Wharf wine-bar. As the ones and twos multiplied they moved to a pub; then to the multi-faith prayer-room on the estate. The work expanded as St Helen’s Bishopsgate joined in gospel partnership with St Anne’s to provide additional staffing for the ministry, but growth was hampered for want of a large enough and near enough venue that was affordable. Many years before a former rector of St Anne’s had had the idea of a church on a boat in Canary Wharf. In 2003 that dream became reality with the arrival of St Peter’s Barge. The Dutch freight barge was bought and refitted in the Netherlands, financed by the generosity of Christians in commerce, sailed across under its own power, and is now permanently moored on West India Quay just 5 minutes walk from One Canada Square.

Reaching out to 93,000 workers

The primary purpose of the Barge is to get the gospel of Jesus Christ out to as many as possible of the 93,000 workers in the Wharf. Every Wednesday (1:05pm) and Thursday (1:15pm), there is a half-hour ‘service’ comprising a Bible-reading and a 20 minute Bible-talk to which Christians are encouraged to bring their non-Christian colleagues.

The Barge is laid out in café-style format with workers sitting around tables and served with free coffee. Although all true Christians in the Wharf will be members of local churches in the areas where they live, the fact remains that their most meaningful non-Christian relationships are probably in the workplace.

The Barge exists to support these Christians in their witness to their colleagues who are unlikely to ever accompany them to their local churches given Wharf workers commute in from all over the South-East of England.

Supporting witness in the workplace

To support Christians in their witness in the workplace the Barge also runs small group programmes. Partnership Groups meet each week for Bible-study, prayer and discussion, at breakfast and lunchtime; and there are regular 'Christianity Explored' courses for those who want to explore the Christian claims. In addition to this weekly programme we lay on evangelistic events to which Christians can invite colleagues – a week of evening talks on ‘Ultimate Questions’ after a sit-down dinner; a seminar on contentment for women; a presentation on the Da Vinci Code; Jonathan Aitken giving his testimony; a high-profile Christian businessman speaking on ‘True Success’ at an early evening drinks reception.

One of the distinguishing features of the Barge midweek ministry is that it brings together Christians from a wide range of local church backgrounds for the sake of mission. The local churches represented vary enormously in style and emphasis and the Christians from them would disagree on all manner of secondary issues, but for the sake of mission these differences are laid aside as we work together for the salvation of the lost. It is a precious foretaste of the ultimate reality forseen in Ephesians 1v10.

However, the commuters are not the only new arrivals in Docklands. The regeneration of the area has brought with it not just office-towers but also extensive residential development, with many thousands of young professionals moving in to waterfront apartments. Property prices are soaring as E14 becomes the postcode to have, and all the more so now with the Crossrail transport link and the Olympics on the doorstop. This is good news for the developers but also a gospel opportunity for the churches.

Reaching business professionals

To reach out to these new residents the Barge launched a Sunday evening church in 2004. There are currently 100 or so representing some 25 nationalities coming on board each Sunday for the services at 4.00 & 6.30pm. The services are identical but at the earlier one we also run a Sunday School and creche. One advantage of our novel venue is that many who would never darken the doors of a church building because for them it has negative associations would be prepared to come along to church on a boat. But first they need to find out that the Barge is here.

Spread the news

Perhaps you could help us in spreading the word. Our website (www.stpetersbarge.org) gives full details and has all the talks given on the Barge available as audio files for free download. Most of all we would value your prayers. The urban regeneration of Docklands is a powerful testimony to human ability and vision. But the spiritual regeneration of Docklands will need a miracle - in fact thousands of miracles, as God uses the proclamation of the gospel and the prayers of his people to give new life to the spiritually dead who work and live in and around what was once a warehouse called Canary Wharf.

Visit us

All our meetings are held on St Peter's Barge at West India Quay, Hertsmere Road, London E14 4A. The nearest buildings on the quayside are the Museum of London Docklands and the 1802 bar/restaurant.

Chai Ng, 03/10/2011