Advice for parishes
Transferring to online worship can be daunting for parishes. The links below give advice on some of the most commonly asked questions whether you are just starting out or improving your practice.
Getting online
The Church of England is offering a series of free webinars on live-streaming, social media and innovative ways to reach people remotely:
You might also be interested in this helpful blog about going ‘live’ online: A beginner’s guide to going live with your service or event.
Cyber-security
The Church of England’s Digital Labs section has some helpful advice on cyber-security when live-streaming here: Cyber-Security when live-streaming.
More detailed information about staying safe while streaming over Zoom and similar software packages can be found further down this page.
Publicising services
- If you would like to be added to the Diocese’s list of parishes offering prayer and services online (see ‘Advice for individuals’, below), get in touch with our website manager at [email protected].
- If you live-stream your church services, please add the ‘Live Stream’ tag to your AChurchNearYou page – it will make it easier for people to find you.
Using social media
These articles, from the Church of England’s Digital Labs blog, share best practice for setting up social media profiles:
Activities for older adults
The organisation Faith in Later Life has collected resources for parishes looking to keep connected with people who may be reluctant to go digital. Subjects include Activities for Older Adults during Covid-19, What about older people who aren’t online? and Tackling anxiety and fear in the Coronavirus crisis.
Engaging with audiences
Our Mission Teams (Fresh Expressions, Children & Young People, Mission and Evangelism, JPIC) are here to help you to engage meaningfully with your online audiences. They can offer practical support, resources and mission grants for online outreach.
If you would like to know more, get in touch by e-mail. Please also let them know about any projects you are already running, and any ways in which they might be able to support you.
Advice for individuals
Are you an individual looking for an online community or service you can be a part of? Follow the links below to find Churches in our Diocese with worship, services or prayer resources online for you.
A-C
- Addington, St Mary – live streaming via Facebook
- Addiscombe, St Mary Magdalene with St Martin – services & reflections via YouTube
- Addiscombe, St Mildred – remote worship via website
- Balham, The Ascension – online worship gatherings via website
- Barnes, St Mary – streaming via YouTube
- Barnes, St Michael- Morning prayer and mass online at 9am and midday
- Battersea Rise, St Mark – Sunday 10.30am livestream via website
- Beddington, St Mary – weekly Service of the Word (with sermon) podcast
- Bermondsey, St James & St Anne – Sunday 10.30am live streaming via Facebook
- Bermondsey, St Mary Magdalene – Sunday 10.30am live streaming via YouTube
- Blackheath Park, St Michael & All Angels – online services via website
- Blackheath, St John – streaming via website
- Blackheath, The Ascension – live streaming via Facebook
- Bletchingley, St Mary the Virgin – online services via YouTube
- Blindley Heath, St John – services via Facebook
- Brixton Road, Christ Church – live streaming via Facebook
- Brockley Rise, St Saviour – live streaming via Facebook
- Camberwell, St Matthew – streaming via YouTube at 11 am every Sunday
- Carshalton, All Saints – live streaming via Facebook
- Carshalton Beeches, Church of the Good Shepherd – streaming via YouTube
- Caterham, St John – online services, prayer and worship resources via website
- Catford, St Andrew – live streaming via Facebook
- Catford, St John – live streaming via Facebook
- Catford, St Laurence – Sunday 9.30am live streaming via Facebook
- Chaldon, St Peter & St Paul – online service info via website
- Charlton Benefice – live streaming via zoom
- Cheam Parish – YouTube channel
- Chipstead, St Margaret – resources and service info via website
- Clapham, Holy Trinity – online services via website
- Clapham, St Paul – online services via Facebook
- Coplestone Church – live streaming via Facebook
- Croydon, Christ Church – online services via website
- Croydon, Emmanuel – Sunday 10am all age service
- Croydon, Holy Saviour – live streaming via twitter
- Croydon Minster – streaming via Facebook
- Croydon, St Andrew – streaming via Facebook
- Croydon, St Matthew – YouTube channel
- Croydon, St Michael & All Angels with St James – live streaming via Facebook
D-K
- Dormansland, St John – 11am Sunday via Instagram, 10am Sunday via Zoom
- Downham, St Barnabas – services sheets and live streaming link via website
- Dulwich, Grace Church – live services via Zoom, email for more info
- Dulwich, St Barnabas – Sunday service and morning prayer live streaming via Facebook
- Earlsfield, St Andrew – live streaming via Facebook, Sundays at 10am
- East Dulwich, St John The Evangelist – Sunday 10am live streaming via YouTube
- East Greenwich, Christ Church – live streaming via Facebook, Sundays at 10am
- East Sheen, Christ Church – live streaming via Facebook
- East Wickham, St Michael – live streaming via Facebook
- Eltham, Holy Trinity – live streaming, information on website
- Gipsy Hill, Christ Church – live streaming via Facebook
- Godstone, St Nicholas – services via Facebook
- Greenwich, Grace Church – live streaming via website
- Hackbridge & Beddington Corner, All Saints – streaming Sunday service, info via website
- Hatcham, St Catherine – prayers and resources on website
- Herne Hill Parish – streaming via website
- Hither Green, St Swithun – audio worship via website
- Honor Oak Park, St Augustine – live streaming Wednesday evening prayer
- Hurst Green, St John – YouTube channel
- Kennington, St Anselm – services via website
- Kennington, St Mark – streaming via YouTube
- Kew, Barn Church – online service info and resources via website
- Kew, St Anne – live streaming via Facebook
- Kew, St Luke – online service info and resources via website
- Kidbrooke, St James – online services via website
- Kingston, All Saints – live streaming via YouTube
- Kingston, St Paul – live streaming via Facebook, Sunday 10.30am
L-O
- Lee, Church of the Good Shepherd with St Peter – video reflections & resources via website
- Lee, St Margaret – live streaming via Facebook
- Lee, St Mildred – Sunday 10am service streaming via website
- Lewisham, St Mary the Virgin – live streaming via website
- Limpsfield, St Peter – live streaming via Facebook
- Lower Sydenham, St Michael & All Angels – Sunday 10am services via Zoom
- Malden, St James – streaming via Facebook and Zoom (details on website)
- Merton, St James – online services, info via website
- Merton, St Mary – online service resources via website
- Mision Hispana Anglicana – live streaming in Spanish via Facebook
- Mitcham, St Mark – YouTube channel with Sunday sermons
- Monks Hill, St Francis – live streaming via Facebook
- Morden, Emmanuel – streaming via website
- Morden, St George – streaming via website
- Morden, St Lawrence – live streaming via website
- Mortlake, St Mary the Virgin – live streaming via Facebook
- Motspur Park, Holy Cross – service info via Facebook
- Mottingham, St Andrew w St Alban – Sunday live streaming, info via website
- Mottingham, St Edward – services online via Facebook
- New Malden, Christ Church – streaming via YouTube
- New Malden, St John – streaming information via website
- Norbury, St Philip – live streaming via Facebook
- North Dulwich, St Faith – live straming via website
- Nutfield, SS Peter & Paul – online services via YouTube
- Old Coulsdon, St John the Evangelist – live streaming, info via website
P-S
- Peckham, All Saints – live streaming via YouTube
- Peckham, Christ Church – streaming via YouTube
- Perry Hill, St George – weekly podcasts on Soundcloud
- Putney, St Margaret – streaming via Facebook
- Redhill, Holy Trinity – services on YouTube channel
- Redhill, St John the Evangelist – live streaming & resources
- Redhill, St Matthew – online services via YouTube
- Reigate, St Luke – online services via YouTube
- Reigate, St Mary – online services via YouTube
- Richmond, Holy Trinity – live streaming via YouTube
- Richmond, St John the Divine – online Sunday services
- Sandrstead Parish – streaming info & resources via website
- Sanderstead, St Mary – prayers and resources on YouTube
- Selsdon, St John – resources on website
- Shirley, St George the Martyr – Sunday services via YouTube channel
- Shooters Hill, All Saints – Sunday 10.30am live streaming via YouTube
- Shooters Hill, Christ Church – services available via Facebook
- South Croydon Benefice – YouTube channel
- South Dulwich, St Stephen – live streaming via Facebook
- South Godstone, St Stephen – services via Facebook
- South Norwood, St Alban – live streaming via Facebook
- South Norwood, St Mark – services online via YouTube channel
- South Nutfield, Christ Church – streaming via website
- Southwark, Christ Church – live streaming via Facebook
- Southwark, Holy Trinity w St Matthew – YouTube channel (English) and streaming via Facebook (Spanish)
- Southwark, St George the Martyr – live streaming via Facebook
- Stockwell, St Andrew & St Michael – live streaming via YouTube Sundays at 10.15am
- Surbiton, St Andrew & St Mark – streaming info via website
- Surbiton, St Matthew – live streaming via Facebook
- Sutton, St Barnabas – info and resources via website
- Sydenham & Forest Hill, Holy Trinity – 10am reflection via Facebook
T-Z
- Thamesmead, Church of the Cross – live streaming via Facebook, Sundays at 10.30 am
- Thamesmead, St Paul – Online Sunday services via YouTube
- Thornton Heath, St Paul – live streaming via Facebook
- Tolworth, Emmanuel – online servies via website
- Tooting, All Saints – live streaming via Facebook
- Tooting, Holy Trinity – #RemoteChurch at 10 or 11am
- Tooting, St Nicholas – online service info via website
- Upper Norwood, St John – streaming and online resources, info via website
- Wallington, Holy Trinity – streaming, info via website
- Wallington, Springfield Church – 10.30am live streaming via YouTube
- Wallington, St Michael with St Paul – live streaming via Facebook
- Wallington, St Patrick – online services via YouTube
- Walworth, St Peter – live streaming via Facebook
- Waterloo, St John – virtual services, info via website
- Wellspring Community – morning and evening prayer streaming via Facebook
- West Dulwich, All Saints – live stremaing via YouTube
- West Norwood, St Luke – live streaming via Facebook
- West Thamesmead Community Church – Live streaming via Website, Sundays at 3 pm
- West Wickham, St Francis of Assisi – online services via website
- West Wickham, St Mary of Nazareth – online services via website
- Westcombe Park, St George – streaming via YouTube, Sundays at 11am
- Whyteleafe, St Luke – prayers and links to services and other videos
- Wimbledon, Emmanuel – live streaming via Facebook, Sundays at 10.30am & 6pm
- Wimbledon, St John the Baptist – services via Soundcloud
- Wimbeldon, St Mary – live streaming via Facebook
- Wimbledon, St Matthew – online service info via website
- Windmill United Benefice – services and resources via website
- Woodside, St Luke – live streaming via Facebook
- Woolwich, St Mary Magdalene – virtual service on website on Sundays and Holy Days
- Worcester Park, Christ Church with St Philip – live streaming via Facebook
- WOWChurch, an online Christian community
Special services
On occasion the Diocese and Cathedral stream special services. These can be found on the Diocesan and Cathedral YouTube Channels and Facebook pages.
- Southwark Diocese Facebook
- Southwark Cathedral Facebook
- Southwark Diocese YouTube
- Southwark Cathedral YouTube
The Bishop of Southwark streams services from the chapel at Bishop’s House, which are available via the Diocesan Facebook and YouTube links above, as well as on Bishop Christopher’s Twitter feed.
Cyber-security
Some parishes have reported incidents of ‘Zoombombing’ (people hijacking video conferencing meetings in a disruptive way). The latest edition of Zoom (Zoom 5.0) was issued on 27 April 2020 containing security enhancements and additional meeting safeguards to help keep your meetings safe from Zoombombing (https://zoom.us/docs/en-us/zoom-v5-0.html). Please ensure that your Zoom account is updated to this latest version.
- Please note that all meetings are now required by Zoom to have a password. Only circulate the meeting password to trusted individuals and please don’t share it online – it’s the same as letting the public know where your spare front door keys are kept!
- To add additional security, we advise that you ask people to let you know in advance that they will be attending the meeting, and to tell you the screen name they will use.
- The Zoom waiting room should now be enabled automatically on all meetings. Check the screen names against your list, and only let in those people you are expecting.
- Screen sharing is now set, by default, to be an option only for the meeting host. We recommend that you keep it set this way to avoid any unwanted interruptions.
For additional security:
a) use password security on any parish live-streams you are planning, and make sure that the password is distributed in a different way from the stream link
b) check the host security settings of the broadcast, to make sure that only the host can allow screen sharing, and if necessary, muting.
Cyber-security resources
- Managing participants in a Zoom meeting: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/115005759423
- Managing meeting settings in Microsoft Teams: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/meeting-settings-in-teams
- Managing group chats in Skype on desktop: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA34800/how-do-i-manage-group-chats-in-skype-on-desktop