Church Life

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”  Psalm 133:1

At St Giles', we believe all people are God’s people. 

Through events and partnerships, we create a sense of inclusive belonging and support for those in our parish, local organisations, and churches further afield.

As the most residential parish in the City of London, we build community within our congregation and the parish more broadly through artistic and social events, and also periodic pilgrimage and retreats.  

By virtue of our nearly thousand-year history, we have deep ties with ecumenical, social and charitable partners in our local community.

We also participate in the broader Anglican Communion as far afield as Tanzania and Canada, through partnerships with local churches, forged through history and friendship.

Social Events

Our congregation members enjoy spending time together in a variety of activities.  Together, we’ve visited art exhibitions and gone for walks in the countryside.  In the darker months, we’ve been known to gather for a pub quiz, cheese tasting competition, or a lively ceilidh.

From time to time, some of our talented congregation members will offer a recital or talent show for a good cause.

And of course there are birthdays and life celebrations to cherish together.

Pilgrimage & Retreats for our Congregation

In June, members of all ages gather for a weekend at the beautiful seaside Othona community in Essex, where we share in meals and worship and spend time walking, swimming, talking, or simply enjoying quiet in nature. 

Most years, we also travel together to the Community of the Resurrection, in Mirfield, England, following the Benedictine-inspired rhythms of the monastic community for a long weekend.

And we’ve journeyed down to Nimes, France, to visit the Abbey and tomb of our patron, Saint Gilles.

In 2026, we are also off to visit Northern Saints on a summer pilgrimage to Durham, Whitby and Lindisfarne - Ss Hilda, Bede, Cuthbert and Aidan.

Partnerships around our Parish

Ecumenical partnerships

We strive for unity of Christians, irrespective of denomination.  Consequently, we maintain very close ties with Eglwys Gymraeg Jewin (Welsh Presbyterian Church), St Joseph’s and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, and Wesley’s Chapel & The Leysian Mission, including a rotating ecumenical discussion/study series in Autumn and Lent each year, and joining each others worship at points in the year.

We also partner closely with our neighbouring parish church in the north of our Parish, St Clement’s King Square. We share ministry to our Parish School, St Luke’s, Old Street, and the St Luke’s Estate and surrounding neighbourhood.

Other local partnerships

We serve as the church for the Worshipful Company of Barbers, the Worshipful Company of Salters and the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, and our rector is also chaplain to the Worshipful Company of Pipemakers. We also serve as one of the community partner churches for St Luke’s School and St Luke’s Community Centre, both born from our daughter church, St Luke’s Old Street.

We have also partnered with the Jewish Square Mile in the revealing of the Medieval Jewish Cemetery, which was located just beside St Giles’, and hosted an exhibition to celebrate the moment.

We are proud to be the home of the London Gay Symphony Orchestra.

And we also serve a number of other local charities: St Luke’s School Trust, Worrall and Fuller Exhibition Fund, St Luke’s Parochial Trust, and Sir William Joseph Jordan’s Charity.

We have partnered this year with the Homelessness charity Groundswell.

We are the Ward Church for the Ward of Cripplegate, within and without (within the old City of London walls, and outside them), and the Church for the Cripplegate Ward Club. Our Alderwoman is Elizabeth King BEM www.cripplegatewardclub.com

We are one of the churches served by the Ancient Society of College Youths, a world-renowned society of bell ringers. St Giles’, mentioned in the nursery rhyme ‘Oranges and Lemons’ as ‘brick bat and tiles for the bells of St Giles’, has a famous ring of 13 magnificent bells. www.ascy.org.uk 

We rejoice in local friendships, community and artistic endeavours with the Barbican Centre and the City of London School for Girls, Culture Mile and the City of London Corporation. 

Partnerships further afield

The Diocese of Kagera in the Anglican Church of Tanzania.

Our Rector is the Canon for International Relations for Kagera, and we have supported the Theological College, Cathedral and extensive education and health provision actives of the diocese.

Christ Church, Meaford, Canada.

During the Second World War, Padre Appleyard of the Canadian Army took bombed-out stained glass from St Giles’ and other English churches. It now forms a window in Christ Church, Meaford. This link, unearthed in 2025, has led to a formal partnership and exchange of gifts between the parishes. St Giles’ now cares for a piece of Christ Church glass, and uses a chalice from Christ Church at midweek Eucharists.

Holy Saviour, Sugley and Holy Spirit, Denton, in the Diocese of Newcastle. 

Reciprocal preaching and collaboration.