St John on Bethnal Green is an early 19th-century church near Bethnal Green, London, England, and is located on the Green itself. It was constructed 1826–28 to the design of the architect Sir John Soane (1753–1837). It is an

Anglican Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...

church in the

Diocese of London The Diocese of London forms part of the Church of England's Province of Canterbury in England. It lies directly north of the Thames. For centuries the diocese covered a vast tract and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north ...

. The church is located near the Bethnal Green tube station, on Bethnal Green Road and Roman Road. In 2000, the painter Chris Gollon gained a major commission from the Church of England for fourteen

Stations of the Cross The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...

paintings for the church. Gollon was a controversial choice, since he is not a practising

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

. In order to carry out the commission, and for consultation on theological matters, he collaborated with Fr Alan Green,

Rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of the church. The belfry provides an exhibition space for artists.

References

Churches completed in 1828 1828 establishments in England 19th-century Church of England church buildings Bethnal Green Diocese of London Grade I listed churches in London Grade I listed buildings in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets John Soane buildings Bethnal Green {{London-church-stub