S t . J o h n ' s

A warm and welcoming parish family in Entebbe, growing together in faith, worship, and service to Christ.

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Our Story

Through the Years

1908

118 Years of God's Faithfulness

118 Years of God's Faithfulness
St. John's Church, Entebbe is one of Uganda's oldest Anglican churches, with a rich heritage spanning more than a century of faithful Christian witness, worship, and community service. Since its establishment in 1908, the church has stood as a beacon of faith on the shores of Lake Victoria, faithfully proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ while serving generations of worshippers from Uganda and around the world. Originally founded as St. John the Evangelist Church during the colonial era, the church was established under the leadership of Sir Hesketh Bell, then Governor of the Uganda Protectorate, to serve the Anglican Christian community in Entebbe. The first church building was constructed near the Governor's residence before the church later relocated to its present location on Circular Road, where the historic Old Church still stands today. Throughout its history, St. John's Church has witnessed remarkable moments of growth, resilience, and transformation. During the difficult years following the departure of expatriate clergy in the early 1970s, faithful lay Christians courageously sustained the ministry of the church through prayer, worship, Scripture reading, and servant leadership. Their unwavering commitment ensured that the church remained alive during one of the most challenging periods in Uganda's history. In 1974, the church became a Sub-Parish under St. Mark's Church, Namate, before attaining full Parish status in 1987, becoming one of the few Anglican parishes within Namirembe Diocese whose ministry boundary was defined by the English language. Over the decades, the parish has continued to expand its ministries, develop strong lay leadership, and nurture generations of believers through worship, discipleship, evangelism, children's ministry, youth programmes, family fellowships, and community outreach. As the congregation continued to grow, the vision for a larger sanctuary was born during the church's centenary celebrations in 2008. Through sacrificial giving, faithful stewardship, generous partners, and the grace of God, this vision became a reality with the completion of the magnificent new church building in 2025. Today, the new sanctuary stands alongside the historic Old Church as a visible testimony of God's faithfulness and the unwavering commitment of generations who have faithfully invested in His Kingdom. Today, St. John's Church, Entebbe is a vibrant Anglican parish within the Namirembe Diocese, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds into a Christ-centred community of worship, discipleship, fellowship, and service. The parish continues to proclaim the Gospel, nurture believers, strengthen families, and serve the wider community while remaining firmly rooted in the timeless truth of God's Word. As we celebrate more than 118 years of God's faithfulness, we honour the pioneers, clergy, lay leaders, volunteers, and faithful members whose prayers, sacrifice, and commitment have shaped our journey. Inspired by their legacy, we look to the future with confidence, trusting God to continue using St. John's Church as a place where lives are transformed, hope is restored, and Christ is glorified for generations to come.