Jubilee International Church facts for kids

Jubilee International Church started in 1992 with just seven members in Clapham, London. They later bought and updated an old Baptist church building from 1935. In 2006, they moved to the Chinbrook area of Grove Park. This church was part of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain, a large worldwide Pentecostal group. Jubilee International Church also had several branches in the UK and in other nations.

The Church Building's Story

David Pinkess, son of Frederick Pinkess, near the church's foundation stone.

When the Grove Park Estate was first built in the 1920s, the local council decided it should also have a church. Mr. Frederick E. Pinkess was already running a successful Sunday school in the area. He saw that the community needed a church and applied for permission to build one.

With help from the Shaftesbury Society, which was linked to the Baptist Church, Mr. Pinkess raised enough money. The church was finished in May 1935. It was a place of worship for everyone, called Grove Park Mission. It helped poor people in the community.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the church had a very popular program for the community, especially for children. This led to a very busy Sunday school. They would sing hymns outdoors in the local streets, even carrying a heavy church organ for music. They held outdoor events every Sunday afternoon and evening for many years.

In 1947, the church joined the Free Church movement, which was part of the Plymouth Brethren group. From 1961, Pastor Gordon Thomson became the long-term pastor. He was connected to Honor Oak Christian Fellowship. The church was then called The Christian Fellowship. A local part of Operation Mobilisation also helped with their work.

In 1987, an organization called Book Aid started renting space in the building from The Christian Fellowship. Then, in August 2005, the building was sold to Jubilee International Church. Pastor Thomson was happy to see the church building go to a new, active group. He and his wife both passed away within a month of each other in 2007.

Challenges Faced

The new church gained media attention in the summer of 2006. There were serious disagreements with local residents in Grove Park. There were also strong talks with the local council, London Borough of Lewisham, about getting permission for their building use.

After the council made a positive decision about the church's use, the situation became very difficult. The church faced serious attacks and ongoing problems for almost two years. Eventually, after about 18 months, things calmed down.