St Mary’s and All Saints’ Church Putney Common, form the Parish of Putney Team Ministry, part of the Diocese of Southwark in the Church of England.

At St Mary’s we are a very mixed group of people. We are an inclusive church, welcoming all without exception, irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or church background.

What we share is a common desire to grow towards God. We understand God to be above all revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Together we seek to grow in faith, in understanding of God and in service of our fellow human beings, recognising that they, like us, are made in the image and likeness of God.

We don’t of course always get it right! But we share the journey together through sharing encounter with God in the Eucharist and sharing in worship. You are most welcome to come along and see what you make of us.

The Church is open 7 days a week for personal prayer and reflection usually from 9 am to 6 pm. The Putney Pantry which is our cafe facility in the Brewer Building adjacent to the church is also open for breakfast, brunch and afternoon teas during this time.

Morning Prayer Monday to Friday at All Saints’ (9.15-9.45am, enter via the small north-east door).

Breathing Space on Tuesday evenings at St Mary’s, a chance for still meditation (9.30pm for a 9.45pm start, finishing by 10.15pm).

The UK Government Legislating for Civil Partnerships to be Available to Opposite Sex Couples

The Parish of Putney is part of the Inclusive Church Network. As part of this network we believe, among many other things, that where relationships are embedded within faithfulness, permanence, fidelity and love, then the intimacy and joy of sexual relations are life giving and reflect something of the great and immense love of God to all humanity.  We believe that marriage can offer stability and clear intent that provides a wonderful place for the joy and the vulnerability of sexual relations, but we do not believe that heterosexual marriage has a monopoly of being the only suitable place for sexual relations.

The House of Bishops’ response, to the Government Legislation, is distilled down to a view that the only place where sexual relations rightfully belong is within the boundary of heterosexual marriage. This view had merit in the Ancient Middle East where women were the property of men and the value of ‘the asset’ was to be protected and where most heterosexual sexual relations could lead to children. It worked where there was no notion of the possibility of a same sex relationship displaying the values akin to those cited as being foundational to heterosexual marriage. However, it does not have merit as a sexual ethic in our changed context today.

The PCC of the Parish of Putney agreed that it is important for us to record our departure from the House of Bishops’ understandings. It is important, as we believe that hurt is being caused to many people, including both same sex and opposite sex couples, and that damage is being caused to the church by its inability over the last few decades to work through to a  sexual ethic reflecting the hugely changed social, economic and cultural setting from those of the Ancient Middle East.

The PCC and clergy of the Parish of Putney delight in the diversity of human sexuality and say as clearly as possible: ‘All are welcome and our common life is enhanced by being a community where straight and LGBT+, married, single and partnered, young and old and every other shade in the diverse rainbow of humanity are valued, loved and essential members of our church.’

If you would like to talk about this, please don’t hesitate to contact Rev’d John Whittaker at john.whittaker@parishofputney.co.uk or Rev’d Jono Haynes at jonathan.haynes@parishofputney.co.uk

God Bless

Rev’d John Whittaker

Team Rector

On behalf of the PCC of the Parish of Putney

How to get to St Mary’s Church, Putney……….

St Mary’s Church is next to the river at the southern end of Putney Bridge.
It is in a controlled parking zone, so we recommend you come by public transport.

Putney is very well-served by buses, tubes, and the rail network………..

By Bus:  Many bus routes go through Putney. Here are a few useful ones:

From Piccadilly Circus to Putney Common, take a number 22

From Hyde Park Corner to Putney High Street, take a number 14

From Oxford Street to Putney High Street, take a number 74.

Other routes include 220, 270, 424, 430, & 485 [stops outside of the church]

By Tube:  Take the District Line to Putney Bridge station on the Wimbledon branch, and then simply walk south over Putney Bridge, (5mins walk) or to East Putney station and walk west along the Upper Richmond Road and then north down Putney High Street to Putney Bridge (15mins walk).

By Rail:  Very frequent trains from London Waterloo, via Clapham Junction, to Putney Rail station. From Putney Rail station there are fairly frequent trains to Richmond, Hounslow and out towards Windsor. Walk north down Putney High Street (5mins walk).

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.  Our safeguarding officers are:

Isobel Vass (Adult Safeguarding Officer).  You can email her via this link: AdultSafeguarding.stmarys@parishofputney.co.uk

Libbit Osborne (Child Safeguarding Officer).  You can email her via this link: ChildSafeguarding.stmarys@parishofputney.co.uk

The Diocese safeguarding policies and procedures can be followed at this link: Southwark Anglican Safeguarding

 There is level access in to the Church from the street and parking for blue badge holders on the forecourt, there are disabled enabled facilities on the ground floor and also the first floor which is accessible by the lift.

St Mary’s Church now has a hearing loop available for the back of the front stalls in front of the Altar on the ground floor and also for the pews on the balcony upstairs, please set your hearing aids to the T position

We have a defibrillator [a machine that uses an electric current to stop any irregular and dangerous activity of the heart’s muscles] on site here in the Brewer Building on the wall next to the ‘pulpit display’ opposite the lift in the lobby to the Parish Office. Should you need to use it simply take it off the wall and open the lid, it will speak to you and give very clear and concise instruction for use from there.

You can follow us @PutneyPilgrim. The current theme is thankfulness, if you would like to contribute to taking care of the account for a week with your own ‘week of thankfulness’ please email:   Rev’d Jono Haynes