From two to more than 120 people in nine years – a London church plant which began with a couple meeting individuals in the first year before launching as a living-room Bible study, is now planning to send its very first convert to start a new church in West London.
Malcolm Riley and his wife moved to London in 2013 with a desire to reach the next generation from the city centre. They came with literally nothing, having just left St Ebbe’s Oxford; with no staff team, no core group, no salary, no vicarage and no church building. ‘But we had two Bibles,’ said Malcolm.
A number of supporters helped them begin, including personal friends, the European Leadership Forum, College Church in Wheaton IL (Malcolm’s wife’s home church), St Ebbe’s Oxford and Co-Mission’s ‘Antioch Plan’.
After three years of exploring whether to join the Co-Mission network, they decided to remain independent with a number of partners and supporters. The Revd David Jackman (former President of the Proclamation Trust) and the Revd John Kirkpatrick (current Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland) agreed to give oversight (they are still overseers).
When the church outgrew the living room in its second year, it moved to a coffee shop in Covent Garden. In its third year, it outgrew the coffee shop and relocated to premises above a theatre; in its fifth year it moved to a Congregational church building in Leicester Square. The church has now outgrown that building and is currently seeking a new venue, being temporarily housed by an Anglican church building near Bank tube station.
Malcolm said: ‘We’ve not expanded through transfer growth, but mainly through de-churched people and people who are new to and curious about Christianity. This hasn’t always been easy! Four years in, for instance, only two people showed up to a church service during summer, a low-tide season for young professionals and students in Central London.’
Then over time the church, which was also supported by SaRang Church in Korea, the International Mission Board and Scripture Union, ‘grew a life of its own’. Today, more than 120 people call Trinity Church Central London (TCCL) their church; there have been 46 baptisms/clear professions of faith; and Covid had minimal impact on the church.
TCCL is now multi-ethnic and diverse, with 16 nationalities, and recently started a ministry for Farsi refugees, served by a dedicated leader who comes from the Middle East.
To fulfil the ‘Great Commission’, TCCL has reached various pockets of central London communities with multiple-strategies. Malcolm explained: ‘Biblical, evangelistic preaching is the heart of all growth in depth and breadth, but we also look at other ways to engage people. Q&As, Christianity Explored groups, street outreach, door knocking, extensively working through people’s relational networks – as well as more innovative ideas like buying a coffee cart and serving artisan coffee on the streets to strike up conversations with passers-by.
‘But most of all, it’s simply your people just living out the character and concerns of Jesus. If you and your own people live those out, there will never be a shortage of people wanting to come and hear the gospel – and it is that which saves.’
Malcolm added: ‘TCCL also holds two weekends away each year for believers and anyone else interested. These trips to countryside retreats are highlights of the year, and a key time to deepen healthy relationships among church members.’
An often-held fear for this model of scratch church planting is that it is financially unsustainable. Malcolm said that has not been their experience, but added: ‘It is certainly difficult at the start, but we have seen financial blessing. Internal regular giving of members or past members has been significant – with a lot of first-time givers. God has provided in extraordinary ways at times. On two separate occasions in the early days, we almost had to close the doors because we had large deficits. On both occasions almost the exact amount came in from unlikely gifts at the last minute.’
He stressed that ultimately all the praise must go to God who brought the growth of this church as He has worked miracles in people’s hearts. ‘We have seen real encouragement,’ Malcolm added. The future is also looking encouraging: the first convert, David Seckington – who is now TCCL’s Associate Pastor – and his wife Anna are currently strategising about launching a church plant in West London in September 2023.
Malcolm added that he is a regular en reader who ‘loves getting my paper through each month. Edified by everything. It’s solid and caring.’
