St Dunstan-in-the-West is the Diocese of London’s Church for Europe and it has developed its special role of promoting good relations with Churches outside the Anglican Communion. St Dunstan’s is the spiritual home of the Romanian Orthodox Church in London, and the side chapels in the church reflect a multitude of traditions: there is an altar dedicated to the Roman Catholic Church of the Old Hierarchy of Utrecht and the Old Catholic Church in Communion with the See of Utrecht; a shrine of the Assyrian Church of the East; the Altar of the Oriental Churches (Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, Syro-Indian); and a shrine of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches.  

St Dunstan’s is a centre of prayer for Christian Unity, and the annual service of Evensong for Christian Unity takes place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity each year (18-25 January). See our social media feeds for details.

What is The Church for Europe?

The Church for Europe is a new initiative. Its goal is to ensure that public discourse about the future of Europe includes a spiritual dimension.

The times in which we are living are pivotal ones for Europe as a whole. Discussion continue about Britain’s membership of the European Union and monetary union, its potential benefits and dangers, and about Europe’s responsibilities within the wider world. These are crucial matters, yet all too often they are addressed solely in terms of political and economic concerns. Spiritual considerations, which remain so central to many people’s lives, only rarely feature in public debate.

By bringing the extra dimension of faith to these discussions, the Church for Europe seeks to improve the debate while monitoring and inputting into developments and policy changes.

The Church for Europe …

• is non-political and non-partisan

• does not take a corporate view on policy issues – rather, we seek to make sure that discussion on such issues takes account not only of material concerns, but of spiritual ones as well

• accepts that while faith sometimes reinforces cultural and national divisions, it also has a vital role to play in bridging and healing divisions

• realises that Europe means far more than simply the European Union, and in particular welcomes involvement with the Eastern Orthodox traditions

• seeks to promote genuine, lively debate informed by mutual respect and a search for common ground

• will work to develop the role of faith in helping to identify the goals that we share for the future of Europe

We would be keen to hear from you if you have an interest in these issues.