Spurred on in Tottenham

To St Ann's, Tottenham, to meet their inspirational vicar, John Wood.

You don't often get to visit other churches when you are a vicar but we used the gap between leaving Redhill and starting at Bermondsey to visit St Ann's, Tottenham.

I can't quite remember how I got to hear about St Ann's, but there has been a remarkable work going on there for the last eighteen years. From a small and struggling church meeting in crumbling buildings St Ann's has grown into one of the most vibrant multi-cultural churches of the inner city.

They are engaged in a remarkable range of community activities. They have planted two churches, including one on the Broadwater Farm Estate. They have up to 400 people worshipping in their different congregations on a Sunday.

I went today to chat with John and to learn.

What an amazing man this gentle, humble servant of God is!

Bermondsey and Tottenham are very different places but I learnt a lot from John and was tremendously encouraged by his infectious enthusiasm for the work of the Gospel.

We are going to continue our conversation when he makes a return trip to Bermondsey where, years ago, he was a helper at,... yes, you've guessed it, the Salmon Youth Centre.

Meanwhile here is a brief video overview of St Ann's work in Tottenham at the present time