The church of St John the Evangelist was built to mark the victory of the battle of Waterloo, to serve Workington’s population, which had grown exponentially in the preceding century. The building was designed by Philip Hardwicke and is a copy of St Paul’s in Covent Garden and is highly regarded as architecturally distinctive. Consecrated in November 1823, we celebrated two hundred years of worship and service with our bicentennial festival last autumn, drawing many visitors who commented on how beautiful and prayerful the place is, with a real sense of peace and presence.  
There have been two major interior reconstructions, in 1904 and 1930-31, the latter by Sir J Ninian Comper, who elaborated the Neo-Classical style with a magnificent gilded Baldacchino that gives a real grandeur to the sanctuary. Worship is enhanced by the naturally light interior and the acoustic which serves our musical tradition well. It can accommodate a large number of people through use of its pews and balconies and is well used by local schools for concerts and services.

When it has been open for heritage events, local people have enthused about the local history that is evident, including a renowned collection of World War One Dead Pennies. 
The portico is a local landmark; a valuable plaza for steel band performances, serving outdoor refreshments, displaying an outdoor crib and sometimes sheltering the homeless. It looks rather forbidding, but once inside, the church embraces all comers with a warmth of welcome second to none. 
In 1881 the community hall was built adjoining the church to cater for the needs of the great number of societies, clubs and youth organisations over the years. St John’s relishes its history as integral to the town, and the congregation builds on that heritage, giving a strong sense of who the people of Workington are through the ages, serving the town in the present, and hopeful and vibrant as we look to the future.