Beneath our feet lie layers of history. The American International Church stands here today. This church began with U.S. military members. They gathered for worship at Grosvenor Chapel during World War II. Navy chaplains led them.
After the war, the congregation grew. It included families from the State and Defense Departments. Military chaplains continued to lead. In 1969, the church became independent. It formed bylaws as the American Church in London. Rev. William Schotanus became its first minister. The church worshipped in different buildings.
In 1972, the American Church found a home. It moved to Whitefield Memorial Church on Tottenham Court Road. The United Reformed Church owns this building. The American International Church formally joined them in the mid-1990s.
But there is another story. In 1756, George Whitefield founded a chapel here. He was driven from his chapel in Long Acre. The vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields did this. Whitefield was a contemporary of John and Charles Wesley. He drew crowds of thousands when preaching. He also made missionary tours of the British colonies. Whitefield was the first Anglo-American celebrity. He preached the grace of Jesus Christ for all people.
Whitefield’s legacy has a complex side. In 1739, he condemned slave owners’ cruelty. He offered baptism and scriptural study to enslaved people. This was radical then. However, he did not reject slavery. He advocated for slave labor at an orphanage in Georgia. He didn’t see the contradiction. All people are children of God. They should be free from slavery.
Fire nearly destroyed the chapel in 1857. The London Congregational Society rebuilt it. The building was rebuilt again as Whitefield’s Tabernacle in 1899. It served as a model.
On Palm Sunday 1945, a V-2 rocket destroyed the church. This was the last one to hit London. The current building opened in 1958. It has a similar footprint to the previous church.
In 1986, the American International Church launched The Soup Kitchen. It serves hot meals to people in need. The Soup Kitchen still operates today. It serves meals six days a week. The church’s outreach includes a night shelter. Volunteers from the congregation staff it. They partner with C4WS Homeless Project.
The congregation became more international. People came from every continent. They share a desire to unite as one Body of Christ. In 2012, the church changed its name. It became the American International Church. This reflects its broad membership. In 2022, the church registered for same-sex weddings. This shows inclusion to the LGBTQ+ community.
So the American International Church is more than bricks. It is a place of evolving faith. It is a community that embraces diversity. It stands on historical ground with complex stories. The American International Church welcomes all.