Over the last few years, it has been a joy to get to know the remarkable Christian community in Bonny Downs in East London. It’s a group of people whose life, work and example has truly inspired me.
Their story starts back in 1890s, when Charles Howe, walking through the ‘notoriously rough’ Bonny Downs Road in East London, was outraged to find 60 children playing in the streets with no shoes on. There was appalling working conditions in the docks and in the local gas works, alcoholism was rife and life-expectancy for men was just 30.
Charles Howe dedicated himself to the area, starting adult literacy classes, organised holidays for the children and started groups to address addictions. And Bonny Downs Baptist Church was founded.
Incredible impact
Today, Newham is still one of the poorest areas in the UK but the impact that this church community has had on the neighbourhood is incredible.
In the 1990s the church formed the Bonny Downs Community Association (BDCA) to reach out and build community across different faiths. They invested church funds to renovate a closed-down social club and turn it into a vibrant community centre.
The overgrown, neglected local playing area, called Flanders Field, which had become a haven for crime was reclaimed and turned into a top-class sporting venue. Now it is home to Newham Cricket Club and a host of local sports teams.
Newham has some of the worst homelessness and rough sleeping in the country. So members of the church established a night shelter called NEWway. They later opened a day centre, NEWday to help develop purpose and belonging in people’s lives. Then they started a gardening business, NEWlife employing people affected by homelessness.
Radical faith
I cannot do justice to all they are doing in a short blog post. But at the heart of all this transformation is a radical Christian faith expressed in deep commitment to their local area. As Dave Mann puts it in the video above:
‘We gave what we could, and we used what we had.’
I have been richly blessed by getting to know those involved, especially Dave and Sally Mann, Jonny Adams and Angie Allgood. Collectively, they embody a rare and radical combination of humility, faith, compassion and authenticity. Plus, they don’t take themselves too seriously. Their joyous hospitality is so striking and there is never any shortage of food and fun when you are with them!
The vision for the future: an urban Abbey
Most excitingly, Bonny Downs has a great vision for the future. They have just received planning permission to knock down their old church building and develop the Bonny Downs Abbey – an innovative Christian community which combines social housing, space for worship and prayer, as well as a base for all their missional endeavours.
Please watch the video above and if you are interested in supporting this vision please get in touch with Sally. They love having people visit and you can experience their community for yourself. It really is the real deal.
- Find out more about the Bonny Downs Abbey vision
- Listen to Sally being interviewed recently on the Leaving Egypt podcast
Grace + Truth 