Dutch Church, Austin Friars

The Dutch Church stands in Broad Street Ward, in the City of London. It occupies the site of a 13th-century Augustinian friary founded by Humphrey de Bohun. The original church was granted to Protestant refugees in 1550 and destroyed in 1940 during the London Blitz. The present building was constructed between 1950 and 1954 and is a notable landmark in the ward. It is the oldest Dutch-language Protestant church in the world, known in the Netherlands as the mother church of all Dutch reformed churches. The church’s history reflects London’s role as a refuge for religious exiles. In the 16th century, thousands of Dutch and French Protestants fled persecution in the Low Countries. Among them were skilled craftsmen like brewers, weavers and engravers, including Martin Droeshout, famous for his portrait of Shakespeare. The church’s first superintendent, John a Lasco, established a preaching house for these refugees under a royal charter from King Edward VI. Visitors find a modern church built of concrete and Portland stone, designed by Arthur Bailey. Inside, 1950s stained glass by Max Nauta and others fills the space with colour. The church remains active, hosting Dutch-language services and events for the local Dutch community. It also houses archives and a library, some of which are being digitised. The building is Grade-II listed and continues to attract visitors interested in its history and role in London’s past.