The French Protestant Church of London () is a Reformed/Presbyterian church that has catered to the French-speaking community of London since 1550. It is the last remaining Huguenot church of London. Its current temple in Soho Square is a Grade II* listed building designed by Aston Webb and erected in 1891–1893.
History The church was founded by a royal charter of King Edward VI on 24 July 1550.
At the request of the Huguenots of London, in 1560 John Calvin sent a trusted emissary from Geneva, pastor Nicolas des Gallars, to help provide the young congregation its Reformed theology and Presbyterian organisation.
In 1700, at the height of the French refugee population following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, 23 Huguenot places of worship existed in London. Soho remained remained an important centre of the French community into the 19th century and the church's temple is the only one that is active today: the French Protestant Church in Brighton (opened in 1887) closed in 2008.
Organisation The church is a registered charity under English law. A related charity, The French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust, provides funds for the church and other charitable objects.
Stéphane Desmarais became the pastor on 1 September 2013.Plate List of pastors in the temple, 8–9 Soho Square. A list is also given in Yves Jaulmes, p. 35-37, which stops in 1991 with the appointment of Leila Hamrat, who was the first female pastor of the Church.
Notes and references
Sources Yves Jaulmes, The French Protestant Church of London and the Huguenots: from the Church's foundation to the present day, published by the French Protestant Church of London, 1993, p. 59 . Manifesto, (or Declaration of Principles), of the French Protestant Church of London, Founded by Charter of Edward VI. 24th July, A.D. 1550. By Order of the Consistory. London: Messrs. Seeleys, 1850. The Economist, Changing Shadows: The many mansions in one east London house of God, 18 December 2003, https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2003/12/18/changing-shadows Listing Entry by Historic England The French Protestant Church, British History Online
Gallery
See also
John Houblon Courtauld family French Protestant Church, Brighton
External links French Protestant Church of London The Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland