American International Church

The American International Church stands in the Whitefield Memorial Church on Tottenham Court Road in central London. The building began as a small chapel in 1756 for the Evangelical preacher George Whitefield. It grew through enlargements in 1759 and became a larger mission in 1890. After wartime damage in 1945, a new chapel was built in 1957 on the same site. The grounds now form a public walkway beside the church. The church is recognised for its daily soup kitchen, serving around 70 people each day. It was founded to serve American expatriates but now welcomes about 30 different nationalities. The building has strong historical ties to figures like John Wesley and Silvester Horne. Interpretive panels in the grounds describe its past, including links to the abolitionist Olaudah Equiano. The church also houses the London Chinese Lutheran Church alongside its own services. Inside, visitors find a modern chapel used for worship and community events. The grounds display panels that tell the story of Whitefield’s mission and its later role. Nearby, the public walkway passes the site where the original chapel once stood. The church remains a place where history and service meet in the heart of London.