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Introducing Rivers of Life! ✨ A collaborative festival that celebrates the importance of rivers through a diverse programme of events: worship, creative workshops, exhibitions, seminars, and more.

Curious about nature and spirituality? Join us - everyone is welcome.

18 April - 22 May 2026
📍Various partnering churches, along the Thames
👉 Explore the full programme at riveroflife.london

Rivers of Life is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @stanneandallsaints @nineelmschurch @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

#RiversOfLife #Thames #Spirituality #Nature #London

Behind the Book with @giles_goddard 📖

Giles shares an insight into his new book Exploring Spirit: Finding what matters in a broken world.

Exploring Spirit is published by @canterburypress and out on 26 February - Pre-order your copy now! More info in bio 🤩

#ExploringSpirit #InclusiveChurch #AffirmingChurch #BookLaunch #BehindTheBook

📣 OPEN CALL: From cover to cover, we are celebrating the Bible. In 73 books – from Genesis to Revelation – is the greatest story ever told. Our passion is to bring them alive through the medium of art in this unique competition and exhibition. We invite artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design the front covers of any of the 73 books of the Bible.

We want to celebrate creativity and innovation and promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today. We welcome multiple submissions (up to four), and all selected entries will create the final exhibition.

We offer seven cash prizes with an overall winner decided by our Panel of Judges.

A full colour catalogue of the 73 selected covers will be published.

https://stjohnswaterloo.org/arts/divinedesigns (link in bio)

#opencall #opencallforartists #competition #creative #artcompetition designcompetition

📣 OPEN CALL: From cover to cover, we are celebrating the Bible. In 73 books – from Genesis to Revelation – is the greatest story ever told. Our passion is to bring them alive through the medium of art in this unique competition and exhibition. We invite artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design the front covers of any of the 73 books of the Bible.

We want to celebrate creativity and innovation and promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today. We welcome multiple submissions (up to four), and all selected entries will create the final exhibition.

We offer seven cash prizes with an overall winner decided by our Panel of Judges.

A full colour catalogue of the 73 selected covers will be published.

https://stjohnswaterloo.org/arts/divinedesigns (link in bio)

#opencall #opencallforartists #competition #creative #artcompetition designcompetition

How can we heal and care for our rivers together? 🌍🌊

Join us this Friday, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival, to explore deep incarnation - the idea that divine spirit flows through all creation.

👉 Friday 22 May | 1pm - 5pm
📍 St John’s Waterloo

🗣 Hear from a wide range of voices from faith, activism and community action. Speakers include:

@bishopofkingston | @paul.powlesland | Vanessa Elston, Vicar of St Barnabas, Southfields | Deborah Colvin, Church Warden and Member of Earth Justice Group @stjpiccadilly | Al Barrett, Vicar of Hodge Hill Church in Birmingham | John White, Leader of @hazelnutcommunityfarm |
@giles_goddard Vicar of @stjohnswaterloo

This event begins with a riverside blessing, beside the Thames.

The Rivers of Life Festival celebrates the spiritual significance of rivers and is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

👉 Full programme on www.riversoflife.london

📸 Planet Earth by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

#RiversOfLife #Ecospirituality #FaithInAction #Ecology #DeepIncarnation

How can we heal and care for our rivers together? 🌍🌊

Join us this Friday, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival, to explore deep incarnation - the idea that divine spirit flows through all creation.

👉 Friday 22 May | 1pm - 5pm
📍 St John’s Waterloo

🗣 Hear from a wide range of voices from faith, activism and community action. Speakers include:

@bishopofkingston | @paul.powlesland | Vanessa Elston, Vicar of St Barnabas, Southfields | Deborah Colvin, Church Warden and Member of Earth Justice Group @stjpiccadilly | Al Barrett, Vicar of Hodge Hill Church in Birmingham | John White, Leader of @hazelnutcommunityfarm |
@giles_goddard Vicar of @stjohnswaterloo

This event begins with a riverside blessing, beside the Thames.

The Rivers of Life Festival celebrates the spiritual significance of rivers and is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

👉 Full programme on www.riversoflife.london

📸 Planet Earth by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

#RiversOfLife #Ecospirituality #FaithInAction #Ecology #DeepIncarnation

Last night we gathered on the Thames beach at low tide, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival 🌊

We came together for prayer, reflection and music to celebrate the spiritual significance of rivers. So grateful to everyone who joined!

The Rivers of Life Festival runs until 22 May.

👉 See what's next at www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life Festival is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmarysinthewilderness

📸 Photos by Eleanor Bentall [ @eleanorbentall ]

#RiversOfLife #Thames #BeachCelebration #Spirituality

Last night we gathered on the Thames beach at low tide, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival 🌊

We came together for prayer, reflection and music to celebrate the spiritual significance of rivers. So grateful to everyone who joined!

The Rivers of Life Festival runs until 22 May.

👉 See what's next at www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life Festival is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmarysinthewilderness

📸 Photos by Eleanor Bentall [ @eleanorbentall ]

#RiversOfLife #Thames #BeachCelebration #Spirituality

Last night we gathered on the Thames beach at low tide, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival 🌊

We came together for prayer, reflection and music to celebrate the spiritual significance of rivers. So grateful to everyone who joined!

The Rivers of Life Festival runs until 22 May.

👉 See what's next at www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life Festival is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmarysinthewilderness

📸 Photos by Eleanor Bentall [ @eleanorbentall ]

#RiversOfLife #Thames #BeachCelebration #Spirituality

Last night we gathered on the Thames beach at low tide, as part of our Rivers of Life Festival 🌊

We came together for prayer, reflection and music to celebrate the spiritual significance of rivers. So grateful to everyone who joined!

The Rivers of Life Festival runs until 22 May.

👉 See what's next at www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life Festival is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @nineelmschurch @stanneandallsaints @southwark_cathedral @stmarysinthewilderness

📸 Photos by Eleanor Bentall [ @eleanorbentall ]

#RiversOfLife #Thames #BeachCelebration #Spirituality

As part of this year’s Waterloo Festival (9–12 July 2026), we are putting together a collaboration between St John’s Community Choir and our LGBT+ Open Table Community to hold a special Evensong* on Sunday 12 July at 5pm at St John’s Waterloo. This service will celebrate both the 75th anniversary of St John’s post-war rebuilding as the Festival of Britain’s Centre of English Church Music, and the inclusive and diverse community that gathers here today.

We warmly invite all singers to join members of St John’s Community Choir to form a festival choir for the service. We are especially keen to welcome queer and trans+ singers who would value the opportunity to sing Evensong in an affirming and welcoming space.

Singers of all backgrounds and a range of musical experience are welcome! It’s not necessary to be able to read music to participate. The programme will be chosen to be accessible and rewarding for singers with varied levels of ability.

If you would like to take part, please fill in the registration form. This will help us prepare repertoire and provide music in advance.

https://stjohnswaterloo.org/wf2026/evensong/

We are inviting singers of all abilities to join members of St John’s Community Choir to form a festival choir for a special Open Table Evensong service for the Waterloo Festival on 12th July. We are especially keen to welcome queer and trans+ singers and others who would value the opportunity to be part of this choral tradition and sing Evensong in an affirming and inclusive space will also be joining us. No prior musical experience is needed, and everyone is welcome. Our aim is to create a space where people feel comfortable, included, and able to joyfully and together take part in this tradition.

Full details and how to register can be found here: https://stjohnswaterloo.org/wf2026/evensong

Come and sit by a small fire on the beach as we eat, sing and pray together at low tide - bring your picnic and a camp chair or rug to sit on. Everyone is welcome to join us and though the prayers and some of the songs will be gently Christian in nature, people of all faiths and none are very welcome to come and join as you feel is right for you. This is also a queer and trans+ friendly gathering.
This is a relaxed gathering with a few prayers, hymns, songs and a chance simply to sit in peaceful company on the river beach at low tide. We’ll probably be there for around an hour. Please arrive at 7pm.
The beach is only accessible via stairs.
This event is part of the Rivers of Life Festival - see more info at www.riversoflife.london

Discover our Rivers of Life festival highlights - part 2! 🌊🌿

This festival explores the sacred significance of rivers through a wide range of events.

👉 Explore full programme: www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life is a collaborative festival run by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @stanneandallsaints @nineelmschurch @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

#RiversOfLife #Nature #Spirituality #LondonFestival #Thames

Printmaking in motion! Highlights from yesterday's workshop with award-winning printmaker @creations_of_fitzroy as part of our Rivers of Life Festival 🌊 It was a fun evening, filled with creativity and connection 😀

Rivers of Life is a collaborative festival run by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @stanneandallsaints @nineelmschurch @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

✨ Explore full programme: www.riversoflife.london

#RiversOfLife #Printmaking #Nature #LondonArt #ReliefPrinting

Flashback to our Pilgrimage last week, which launched our Rivers of Life festival 🌊 Thanks to all those that joined us! 😃

✨ The festival continues!
👉 See full programme on www.riversoflife.london

Rivers of Life is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts @stanneandallsaints @nineelmschurch @southwark_cathedral @stmaryinthewilderness

#RiversOfLife #Pilgrimage #Thames #LondonWalk

"I would like to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding" 🌊

Join us this Saturday 25 April for our Quiet Day, part of our Rivers of Life festival. It's a chance to reflect in stillness, think about the spiritual significance of rivers and explore this beautiful poem by Irish poet John O'Donohue.

📍Saturday 25 April at St Andrew's, Short Street

👉 More info at www.riversoflife.london ✨

Rivers of Life is a collaborative festival organised by @stjohnswaterloo @stjohnswaterlooarts
@stanneandallsaints @stmaryinthewilderness
@nineelmschurch @southwark_cathedral

#RiversOfLife #QuietDay #Contemplation #JohnODonohue #Poetry