St John the Evangelist Anglican Church , Alassio, Italy

The Bishop of London was held to exercise responsibility for Anglican churches overseas where no other bishop had been appointed. He retained responsibility for churches in northern and central Europe until 1980, but his jurisdiction in southern Europe ceased in 1842 on the creation of the diocese of Gibraltar. In 1980, the Bishop of London divested himself of all overseas jurisdiction and a new diocese of 'Gibraltar in Europe' was established.

The church of St. John the Evangelist, Alassio was consecrated on 4th April 1883. A new church of the same name was built in 1927-1928 and the old church sold in 1932. In 1983 Mr A.M. Apostol was given charge of St. John the Evangelist by the Bishop in Europe for all matters non-ecclesiastical. The last service was held in the church in 1998 after which it was closed and sold.

Alassio was a popular tourist destination on the Italian Riviera, well known for having a large English expatriate community. As well as the Anglican church, they were served by a large lending library and tennis club. Writer and painter Edward Lear lived nearby for the last 16 years of his life; and both Edward Elgar and Kenneth Grahame visited and worked there.