History

The Eglise Helvétique in London was established in 1762 by a group of expatriate "Swiss" most of whom at that time were not officially Swiss as they had mainly come from Geneva, Vaud and Neuchâtel, which were not yet part of the Swiss Confederation.

Under the inspiration of Justin Vulliamy, the first Consistoire or Group of Anciens as they were then known, inaugurated the church. They rented a large room in Castle Street, Leicester Fields, an appointed M. Antoine Bugnion from Lausanne as their first pastor. As well as being a spirit home for the expatriate Swiss, the church also became a centre of help for indigent Swiss in London.

In 1775, after appeals for funds and some financial aid from Geneva and Berne, the first purpose-built "Helvetic Chapel" was built near Moor Street in Soho. This remained the focal point for the Swiss in London for 80 years. The congregation was mainly French speaking during that time.

The church also played an important role in the protection of the Swiss abroad in the early part of that period.

There was no consular representation until 1817 and they had to rely on the current pastor to be signatory for any important documentation regarding their status, including "pass-ports".

1855 saw the inauguration of our current building in Endell Street, after much planning and fundraising in England and Switzerland.

1862 the centenary celebration of the founding of the Swiss Church in London gathered together several hundred Swiss at the church.

During the 1914 - 1918 war more and more German Swiss came to Endell Street to worship as German speaking churches closed down in London and elsewhere.

In 1924 Swiss German speakers branched out into a separate church, the Schweizerkirche, but without their own building. They rented, to start with, the church of St Agnes and St Anne’s in the city and they had their own governing body, the Kirchenpflege.

In 1930 a major fire almost destroyed the Endell Street building which had to be virtually rebuilt.

1938 the French and German churches merged, but still with two separate parishes.

1939-45 war - the Endell Street building suffered from bomb damage - from 1946-49 underwent major rebuilding.

The church continued to have a pastor and suffragan as did the Schweizerkirche, but gradually, in line with the general trend at the end oft the 20th century numbers began to decline. By 1969 one pastor sufficed for both the communities and both French and German Swiss worshipped at Endell Street.

2000 saw the beginning of a major building project which is still ongoing. Work will begin only when sufficient funds have been raised.


History