11 Black Christians who have shaped the Church and wider society

The Black Christian community – the Black Pentecostal Church, in particular – has played an important role in Black British society. It has enabled its members to overcome racism; encouraged Black potential; emphasised the importance of education; and provided opportunities for individuals to develop and utilise their talents and giftings.

The Windrush Generation laid the foundations of what is described as the ‘Black Pentecostal Church’. Large-scale African migration to the UK, from the 80s onwards, has built on that foundation. Alongside this development, Black Christians have been making strides in what is described as Britain’s ‘traditional mainstream churches’.

The history and development of the Black Church in Britain since 1948, as well as the achievements of Black Christians across the denominational spectrum, is inspiring.

Keep The Faith has listed key individuals, past and present, who have made great contributions to the Church and wider society.

REVD KINGSLEY APPIAGYEI

A leading figure in the Baptist movement, Revd Appiagyei is Founder of Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) in Croydon, Surrey – one of the largest Baptist congregations in the UK and seen as a model to follow. TBC has planted churches across Britain, Europe and Ghana. Revd Appiagyei served as President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain from 2009 to 2010.

PASTOR MATTHEW ASHIMOLOWO

Pastor Matthew has made an indelible mark on Black British Pentecostalism. In 1998, he made history when he opened the 4,000-seater Miracle Centre in Hackney, east London. At the time, it was the largest church to open in the UK for 100 years. The land on which the church was sited was later bought to make way for the Olympic Park. Pastor Matthew was also one of the first UK-based Black church leaders to use media to broadcast his ministry, as well as organise an annual church conference attracting thousands across the denominational spectrum.

REVD DR KATE COLEMAN

A well-known church leader within the Baptist Church, Ghanian-born Revd Coleman made history in 1996, when she became the first Black woman to be accredited as a minister within the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB). She went on to achieve other firsts, which included being appointed as the first Black President of the BUGB between 2006 and 2007, and serving as the first Black female Chair of the Evangelical Alliance (2012-2014). She currently runs a leadership consultancy.

BISHOP SYDNEY DUNN

Jamaican-born, Bishop Dunn was Founder of Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic (BUCJC). At its peak, the church had 42 congregations across the UK. Under his leadership, BUCJC opened the 2,500-seater Bethel Convention Centre – the first Black-owned conference building in the UK, built by a Black Pentecostal church. The West Midlands venue is used by Christian and secular organisations. Upon his passing, such was the high regard in which Bishop Dunn was held that three funerals were held in his honour.

THE RT REVD ROSE HUDSON-WILKIN MBE

Jamaican-born Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, in the Diocese of Canterbury, is one of those most influential Black church leaders in Britain. In 2019, she became the first Black woman to be appointed as a bishop in the Church of England. She started her ministry as a deacon in 1991 and became a vicar in 1994. In 2007, she was appointed as Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen and made history in 2010 when she was appointed as the first female Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, providing pastoral care to MPs and staff at Westminster.

REVD LES ISAAC OBE

He is one of Britain’s most well-known Black Pentecostal church leaders. In 2003, he co-founded Street Pastors, the largest charity to be started by Black Christians in the UK. Street Pastors is part of the Ascension Trust, a charity that seeks to empower churches to contribute positively to society and improve the lives of the disadvantaged and vulnerable. In 2022, a sermon Revd Les preached at the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast set in motion events that led to the resignation of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and the election of Britain’s first Asian Prime Minister.

REVD CARMEL JONES

An ordained Church of God in Christ minister, Revd Carmel Jones laid the foundation for Britain’s first Black-owned Bank, the Pentecostal Community Bank (PCB), following the establishment of the Pentecostal Credit Union (PCU), which he launched in 1980. The PCU was founded at a time when Black people found it challenging to get loans from mainstream financial institutions. The PCU provided loans to individuals, business owners and churches. Several church leaders were able to buy churches with a PCU loan. PCU transitioned into the Pentecostal Community Bank in 2024.

REVD DR OLIVER LYSEIGHT

In 1953, Revd Dr Oliver Lyseight planted the first New Testament Church of God (NTCG) UK congregation at the YMCA Wolverhampton. What started as a prayer meeting led to the formation of Britain’s largest Pentecostal denomination with Caribbean roots here in Britain. NTCG is part of the Church of God, a denomination with churches across the world, with its headquarters in the US. Revd Lyseight went on to become NTCG’s first Administrative Bishop and served in the role up from 1953 to 1978. Revd Lyseight came joint second in a list of 100 great Black Britons, published in 2004.

MOTHER MARY McLACHLAN

A passenger on HMS Windrush, Mother McLachlan is responsible for founding the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) UK, the first Black Pentecostal church in Britain post 1948. Mother McLachlan started prayer meetings in her home in Navarino Road, Hackney, before moving to a rented Hall in Brixton to accommodate the growing congregation. COGICUK was officially incorporated into COGIC in 1952 by Bishop Charles H Mason, who founded the international church in 1918, when he visited the UK for the World Pentecostal Conference. Her husband, Lawrence Oswald McLachlan, later joined her in the UK and served as the first national bishop before they returned to Jamaica in 1963.

THE RT REVD JOHN SENTAMU

Ugandan-born Revd Sentamu made history in 2005, when he was installed as the first Black Archbishop of York in the Church of England. A lawyer by profession, he came to England in 1974, fleeing the oppressive and vicious regime of Idi Amin. He served as the Bishop of Stepney and then Birmingham before his elevation to Archbishop. A popular public figure, Revd Sentamu spoke out about injustice of the regime of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe; was an adviser to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry; and chaired the Damilola Taylor Review. During his time in public life, he also served as President of Youth for Christ and the YMCA.

BISHOP WILFRED WOOD

Renowned as a man of faith, with a commitment to social justice, Bishop Wood made history in 1985 when he was named as Bishop of Croydon, the first Black man to occupy the role. He received 703 letters of congratulations upon his appointment, and St Paul’s Cathedral was filled to capacity when he was officially installed as Bishop. Aside from his church work, Bishop Wood was a board member of the Housing Corporation, and was a founder-member of several housing associations. Prior to his retirement, he was either president or patron of 26 charitable organisations. In 2002, he came joint second on a list of 100 Great Black Britons.

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