French Protestant Church of London
# French Protestant Church of London

The French Protestant Church of London (Église protestante française de Londres) 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 1891–93.

## 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. 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 has been the pastor of the Church since 1 September 2013. He is the 72nd French-speaking pastor of the Church since 1550, and the 70th pastor appointed to this office since Nicolas des Gallars in 1560.

The governing body of the Church is the Consistory. Its members are co-opted and tacitly approved by the congregation. The pastor is a member of the Consistory ex officio.

