The Bishop of London, Richard Chartres, has preached at a special service of thanksgiving at St James the Less Church, Pimlico to mark the 50 year anniversary of Sister Theresa Pountney’s service to Church Army.

The service also included an interview with Sister Theresa in which she reflected on the nature of her call, 50 years of work in Church Army supporting London’s most vulnerable and on what it means for her to continue to serve today 50 years on.

Church Army is a mission-focussed community of people that is transforming lives and communities through the work of evangelists, staff and supporters. It runs a series of projects to support the needy across the UK, including the Marylebone Project, which is based in London and is one of the largest programmes supporting homeless women in the British Isles.

The service formed part of a wider programme of events Sister Theresa is engaging in to celebrate her 50th year in Church Army. This includes a prayer pilgrimage to 50 tube stations across London where she has spent many years in ministry. She will use this opportunity to not only pray for London, its local churches and parishes, but also to raise money to support Church Army Centres of Mission and her now local parish church St James the Less to establish a fund for a Community Outreach worker.

Photo credit: Benjamin Ealovega/SJtL