St John the Evangelist's Church, Cambridge

St John the Evangelist’s is a Church of England parish church at the corner of Hills Road and Blinco Grove in Cambridge. It was founded in 1892 to serve the growing homes between Hills Road and Cherry Hinton Road. At first services met in the chapel of Homerton College until the building could be finished. A committee of local people and Cambridge University members raised the money, led by the Master of Peterhouse. The Reverend John George, a retired clergyman, volunteered to run the project and later gave the pulpit for his silver wedding. The church grew in stages. The first part was ready by the end of 1897 and John George became the first vicar. The west end was completed in 1929 under Reverend Patterson Morgan’s ministry. Vestries for the choir and clergy were added in 1909. A parish room appeared in 1982 under Canon Frederick Wilkinson, then became larger community rooms in 1995 when Canon Brian Jones was in charge. The present vicar is the Revd James Shakespeare, who had served here earlier as curate. Inside, the church contains the pulpit donated by John George and his wife. The choir vestries date from 1909, and the extended community rooms on the south side were finished in 1995. The building stands at a busy road junction yet keeps a quiet presence. The names of former vicars line the history of the parish. Stephen Sykes, once Regius Professor of Divinity, served as curate here from 1985 to 1990.