From the very beginning, our companions have been an important part of the community. We now have 48 companions, living across the UK and beyond.
Companions live in their own homes, but are united with the whole community through prayer, love for the scriptures and desire to make Jesus known everywhere. Many join in our Saturday and Wednesday Zoom services.
We currently have four Shared Life members:
“Hello. I’m Jenny, the Servant-leader of CWG. I was living in Derby and working as a primary school teacher when the Lord called me to the Community.
After meetings with John Pearce and several visits to Hackney, I joined the Community in May 1974, coming to be part of the shared life and prayer, to be a homemaker and to be involved in the ministry of the local church.
It was exciting to be a member of a household with an open door of welcome and to worship among people who knew and loved Jesus and longed to make Him known. After a number of years John stepped down from being Servant-leader of CWG and I was elected to take his place. I also trained as a Lay Reader. Looking back, I praise God for the rich ministry He has given me.”
" Hello, I'm Veronica and I came to join the Community in 1991, having previously been a Companion Member. After being made redundant, I came to stay for a month – and never went away again!
I originally trained as a secondary school music teacher, and was a semi-professional orchestral player in Dorset for several years before working for various charities in public relations & fundraising.
I brought to CWG various general computer, desktop publishing and admin skills as well as musical ones, and have a particular love for liturgy and choral music.
Much of my time is spent working in the local parish in a number of ways, musical and administrative, and I am a Licenced Lay Minister."
“Hello, Annette here. I joined the community at John Pearce’s invitation in 1985 from Chester, where I’d been living and working first with maps as a cartographic tracer and then, after training in Oxford, as an Occupational Therapist.
When John said “Come and join us,” I knew that the Lord was speaking to me through him, so I resigned my post and came. After a back injury at work some years ago, I had to move into ‘Housing with Care’ in November 2021, and now live out my membership of CWG by joining prayers by Zoom most mornings and continuing in my role as Companions’ Secretary.”
“Hello, I’m Liz. I first came to know the community in 1999 when I was living nearby and working for the church of England (I’m an Anglican priest, ordained at Michaelmas, 1997). I’m the newest recruit to the resident family.
I came to live here early in 2022 after Annette moved to her flat, and in April 2022 I made my commitment. Now, I have permission to officiate and can lead worship in local churches when needed.
I’ve been involved with the Iona community for more than forty years and cherish their commitment to the Fifth Mark of Mission: justice, peace and the integrity of creation.”
And last but by no means least is Dana, black and white and feline, around all day in the house and garden (though not in Emmaus, which is a cat-free zone) and a regular and enthusiastic attendee at our 9pm service of compline, appearing as we gather and stretching out in peace as the service begins.
Coming to us from Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ home in 2017, she is now a much-loved member of the Kenworthy Road family.
If you have any questions regarding our religious community, please get in touch with a member of our team so we can talk.
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Community of the Word of God
90-92 Kenworthy Road, London, E9 5RA, United Kingdom
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Registered Charity Number 269209
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