Kensington Temple
Encyclopedia
Kensington Temple is a large Pentecostal
Church in the Notting Hill
area of London
. It is pastored by Reverend Colin Dye, and is the largest church in its denomination, the Elim Pentecostal Church
.
Church, Notting Hill
, in 1849. The building was used from 1935 by the Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship (an Elim Pentecostal Church
offshoot founded by George Jeffreys
), and also known as the Church of the Foursquare Gospel (not to be confused with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
), when it became known as Kensington Temple .
The use of the building reverted to the Elim Church in the early 1960s, and the church as it is known today was founded in 1965 by the Elim Pentecostal Church minister Rev. Eldin Corsie. Under his ministry in the late 1960s–1970s the congregation grew to 600, and then to several thousand under Rev. Wynne Lewis (later to become the Elim Church's General Superintendent) during the 1980s.
Since the 1980s, nicknamed by members of the church as 'K.T.', Kensington Temple has planted 150 churches across London
. Today, It has around 50 churches in its Kensington Temple London City Church (KTLCC) network. Over the years, many churches K.T. has planted have opted to become independent churches or to have an official status as a self-standing Elim church.
In 2000, Kensington Temple began to transition into a cell church
, and today it has hundreds of cell groups meeting weekly across London. The same year, K.T. moved its offices from Tabernacle, an ex-BBC
warehouse in North Acton
, to Monarch House in North Acton.
In 2005 the church moved its offices from Monarch House to Summit House, Hanger Lane
, London
. Congregations continue to grow, as do peripheral services.
Today, KT is an international congregation drawing over 110 nationalities together every week. The worship style is multi-ethnic and contemporary. KT seeks to honour the Bible's teachings and the leading of the Holy Spirit within the life of the church.
in the life of the church and individuals.
The emphasis of ministry at KT is to equip all Christians to follow Jesus Christ and to grow both individually and collectively to be like him. Much of this equipping happens through cells, small groups that gather throughout the city. During the week, cell groups provide pastoral care, support and training for church members.
"The Cause" is the Kensington Temple's 15+ Sunday service. These meetings take place at The Rugby Portobello Trust. The gathering is in search of genuine Christianity, stripping away what the Temple believes is the 'traditional religious paraphernalia that often entangles itself with genuine faith'.
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism is a diverse and complex movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on a direct personal experience of God through the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has an eschatological focus, and is an experiential religion. The term Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost, the Greek...
Church in the Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
area of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is pastored by Reverend Colin Dye, and is the largest church in its denomination, the Elim Pentecostal Church
Elim Pentecostal Church
The Elim Pentecostal Church is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination.-History:George Jeffreys , a Welshman, founded the Elim Pentecostal Church in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. Jeffreys was an evangelist with a Welsh Congregational church background. He was converted at age 15 during the...
.
History
The present church building was founded as Horbury Chapel, and used by the Hornton Street CongregationalCongregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
Church, Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, in 1849. The building was used from 1935 by the Bible-Pattern Church Fellowship (an Elim Pentecostal Church
Elim Pentecostal Church
The Elim Pentecostal Church is a UK-based Pentecostal Christian denomination.-History:George Jeffreys , a Welshman, founded the Elim Pentecostal Church in Monaghan, Ireland in 1915. Jeffreys was an evangelist with a Welsh Congregational church background. He was converted at age 15 during the...
offshoot founded by George Jeffreys
George Jeffreys (pastor)
George Jeffreys was a Welsh minister who founded the Elim Pentecostal Church, one of the first Pentecostal organisations.As a fifteen-year-old from Nantyffylon, Maesteg, Wales, George became a Christian during the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival, along with his older brother Stephen...
), and also known as the Church of the Foursquare Gospel (not to be confused with the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, commonly referred to as the Foursquare Church, is an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination. As of 2000 it had a worldwide membership of over 8,000,000, with almost 60,000 churches in 144 countries. In 2006, membership in the United States...
), when it became known as Kensington Temple .
The use of the building reverted to the Elim Church in the early 1960s, and the church as it is known today was founded in 1965 by the Elim Pentecostal Church minister Rev. Eldin Corsie. Under his ministry in the late 1960s–1970s the congregation grew to 600, and then to several thousand under Rev. Wynne Lewis (later to become the Elim Church's General Superintendent) during the 1980s.
Since the 1980s, nicknamed by members of the church as 'K.T.', Kensington Temple has planted 150 churches across London
. Today, It has around 50 churches in its Kensington Temple London City Church (KTLCC) network. Over the years, many churches K.T. has planted have opted to become independent churches or to have an official status as a self-standing Elim church.
In 2000, Kensington Temple began to transition into a cell church
Cell church
A cell church is a Christian church structure centering on the regular gathering of cell groups. Small group ministries are often called cell groups, but may also be called home groups, home friendship groups, home care groups, house fellowships, or life groups.A church with cell groups is not...
, and today it has hundreds of cell groups meeting weekly across London. The same year, K.T. moved its offices from Tabernacle, an ex-BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
warehouse in North Acton
North Acton
North Acton is a place in West London, UK. It is part of Acton and on the edge of the industrial district of Park Royal. It is located in the London Borough of Ealing.-Commercial activity:...
, to Monarch House in North Acton.
In 2005 the church moved its offices from Monarch House to Summit House, Hanger Lane
Hanger Lane
Hanger Lane is a major road in the Ealing and Park Royal areas of London. It forms the westernmost part of the A406 North Circular as it runs north from Gunnersbury Avenue as it crosses the A4020 Uxbridge Road at Ealing Common to meet the A40 Western Avenue at the Hanger Lane Gyratory System...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Congregations continue to grow, as do peripheral services.
KT today
The church continues to hold services at the Notting Hill site. Around 2,500 people attend the services every week. . Among its many ministries, the church has a Bible School, a performing arts school , an A-level college , a nursery , a conference centre , rooms to let, a publishing company (Dovewell Communications) and a cinema.Today, KT is an international congregation drawing over 110 nationalities together every week. The worship style is multi-ethnic and contemporary. KT seeks to honour the Bible's teachings and the leading of the Holy Spirit within the life of the church.
Theology & ministry
Kensington Temple's theology is Pentecostal, emphasizing the work of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
in the life of the church and individuals.
The emphasis of ministry at KT is to equip all Christians to follow Jesus Christ and to grow both individually and collectively to be like him. Much of this equipping happens through cells, small groups that gather throughout the city. During the week, cell groups provide pastoral care, support and training for church members.
"The Cause" is the Kensington Temple's 15+ Sunday service. These meetings take place at The Rugby Portobello Trust. The gathering is in search of genuine Christianity, stripping away what the Temple believes is the 'traditional religious paraphernalia that often entangles itself with genuine faith'.