Building Beyond:
Soane Re-imagined
What are we doing?
From September 2026 to February 2027, St Peter’s, Walworth is raising £1.5m in match funding for a National Lottery Heritage Fund application. We must be able to show that we have these funds committed before we can go ahead with our application.
Building Beyond: Soane Reimagined is our ambitious plan for our beloved St Peter’s. We want to restore St Peter’s to its former glory, and build beyond it. We want to improve accessibility, celebrate its history and those of the people who have shaped it, and create a church that is welcoming, useful and sustainable.
We want to make this building truly accessible - ramps, a better lift, better loos, signage, a warm and informative welcome.
We want to capture, celebrate and share the stories of the people of St Peters. Schools, charities and people from far and wide visit - we want to give them a richer understanding of this church, its continuous presence, in this community.
We want to follow in the socially focused footsteps of Canon William Horsely, who cleared the graves and headstones to make a park, and cleared the crypt to provide free meals, by providing opportunities for employment through the project, as well as entrepreneurship, fellowship and connection.
We want to be truly sustainable - financially and environmentally. This means better catering facilities, better loos, updated AV for music and community events, and better storage for events kit. We’re already a Rocha Bronze Award Eco Church and are aiming to reach Net Zero, so we’re looking at all kinds of energy efficiency options - solar panels, a heat pump, and even beehives on our flat roof to support local biodiversity.
This is where you come in. Will you help us restore and repair St Peter’s?
…and why are we doing it?
Sadly, the fabric of the building is deteriorating, and the building was not designed with accessibility or modern usage in mind.
The bones of the building are good but crumbling stonework, leaking roofs and damp interior plaster need urgent conservation and repair to stop the existing damage from getting worse, and to prevent new damage.
The wide steps at the west front are elegant, but not accessible. Our lift only goes up one floor. We want everyone to come in, easily, and equally..
Thanks to development funding of £438,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are working an application for a further £3 million in delivery funding from the National Lottery in February 2027, so we can carry out this ambitious and exciting restoration and opening up project.
Peeling paintwork caused by damp and leaks is unsightly and exposes the structures below to more and ongoing risk.
The beautiful, elegant features designed by Sir John Soane are at risk of being lost entirely if damage continues
Sir John Soane's design included characteristic details throughout, lifting the simple building to elegant heights.
This stunning space looks wonderful at first glance - but a second look reveals the damage, quickly.
Who are we doing it for?
Our diverse congregation
St Peter’s is loved by its congregation of over 200 local souls, many of whom have attended for decades. The weekly joyful Sunday Mass is well attended, with new members joining regularly, in the face of broader congregational decline nationally.
A church for all ages
St Peter’s has always transcended religious boundaries, and it has been at the heart of social reform and community action since it was built. Today, our regular community and youth events mean this truly is a space for all.
Keep up to date with Building Beyond: Soane Reimagined - read our updates here
Can you help?
St Peter’s has been witnessing and welcoming Walworth for 200 years.
It is much loved, and in need of urgent conservation and repair to prevent existing damage from getting worse, to prevent new damage, and to make it work as a church that celebrates its community and welcomes everyone - of all faiths and none - who needs it.
Donate today to help us repair and restore St Peter’s.
We thank you in advance for every penny you can spare.
