A church without walls

From The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

May 1, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

Pastor Jane Codrington discusses her journey of founding We Are Church, a community for those excluded by traditional faith structures.

Pastor Jane Codrington grew up in a conservative faith environment before leaving the institutional church to found We Are Church - a community for those excluded by traditional structures. Set within a quiet, gated Johannesburg neighbourhood reflecting the city’s wealth and social divides, the church brings people together to connect, belong, and celebrate community. Jane emphasises this is not a ‘queer church’- though LGBTQ members are welcome, but a space for anyone pushed to society’s edges. Some consider what she is doing blasphemous. She has faced accusations of “harbouring sin” or “leading people to hell,” alongside hostility for her radical inclusivity. Jane reflects on the personal cost of leaving the institutional church and the heartbreak she has experienced in her family. She speaks candidly about grief, doubt, and how her faith has been reshaped by both loss and radical inclusivity.

People in this episode

Guest: Jane Codrington

Topics covered

faith
community
inclusivity
LGBTQ
social divides
personal journey

Keywords

church
inclusivity
Johannesburg
LGBTQ
faith
community
social divides

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: We Are Church

Places: Johannesburg