Janet Wootton is a retired Congregational Minister and former Director of Studies for the Congregational Federation. She is currently Co-chair of International Congregational Fellowship Theological Commission.
In a long career, Janet has served as President of the Congregational Federation, Moderator of International Congregational Fellowship, Moderator of Churches Commission on Mission, Executive President of the Hymn Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Chair of London Homelessness Network (UNLEASH), and other national and international roles.
Janet was Minister of Union Chapel Islington (Union Chapel) from 1986 to 2003, and initiated its development as a Centre for Arts and Community. She is a member of the International John Bunyan Society and spoke on John Bunyan at IJBS Conference (2022). She has recently given papers, at events including the 250 th Anniversary of Amazing Grace (2023 Cowper/Newton Museum), International Hymn Societies (2023, Washington DC), Thomas Traherne Association (2025) and has served as a regular presenter of the Daily Service on Radio 4.
She is an author and hymnwriter. Recent books include: Constance: Pioneer, Pastor, Preacher (URC, 2021), A Cultural History of Women in Christianity in the Age of Empire 1800-1920 (Routledge, 2022), First Flight Feathers: The Best of Worship Live (co-edited with Gillian Warson, 2023). She is currently working on a book on the Spirituality of Hymnody for Peter Lang (due 2026).