Events & Announcements

This Christmas could be different

Inviting a friend to church can feel daunting. You brace for the polite "no". Again.

But maybe, despite our low expectations, the answer will be a grateful “yes”. The Spirit moves in ways we can’t predict, after all. Nobody would have expected the brutal Saul of Tarsus to become a Christian (and then pen much of the New Testament). Nor former slave-trader John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace. Nor you perhaps. God loves to turn 'lost causes' (people like us) into beloved children. He works the impossible.

And he might do the same this year with your friend or family member. Who knows. Of course, there are a thousand ways God could move in their lives—he’s not confined to our calendars or services—but perhaps he’ll include you somewhere in their story through a simple invitation.

So, I encourage you to pray for your friends as we approach Christmas and invite them to one of our festive events below. This Christmas could be different.


Carols

Sunday 7th December, 4pm & 7pm @ Cheng Kin Ku Building

Join us for carols, a message and delicious festive treats. Think mulled wine, fairy lights, and Joy to the World. If you have children, please attend the 4pm service, where we'll have groups for kids aged 2-12.
 


Wreath Making Workshop

Saturday 6th December, 11am-1pm @ London Nautical School

A fun, informal, hands-on experience to celebrate the Christmas season. All materials are included, and everyone will take home a handmade wreath. Open to all - so come along, bring a friend.

Tickets are £25. Limited spaces are available, so book your spot ASAP here.

 

Two courses for big thinkers

This October, we’re starting two evening courses: Foundations and Salt. Both are safe spaces to ask questions, seek truth, and share good food and conversation with others. Each course runs for seven Tuesday evenings, starting 21 October 2025.

Here’s a breakdown of each so you can choose the right one for you. Make sure to sign up!

Foundations


For those seeking to grow in their faith.

Understanding God, his word, and his ways strengthens us. It gives us stability in difficult times, confidence in sharing our faith, and motivation to live for God. Yet many of us struggle to find the time—or even know where to start.

Foundations was set up to address this challenge. We’ll unpack the core beliefs and practices of the Christian faith and explore their life-changing implications. It’s a space to learn, to wrestle with your questions in community, strengthen your convictions, and pave the way to deeper spiritual formation.
 


What to expect

  • Dinner together (free!)

  • Interactive talk + small-group discussion

  • Q&A


Where

  • London Nautical School, SE1 9NA


Sample topics

  • God: Delving into the nature and character of the Almighty.

  • Prayer: Confidently approaching the throne of grace.



SIGN UP FOR FOUNDATIONS

The Salt Course


For those exploring life’s big questions.

Salt takes a more philosophical angle. It begins with the universal longings we all feel—for meaning, peace, purpose—and explores how Christianity speaks into them.

The course is for those who wouldn’t call themselves Christian or have been away from the faith for a while. You might be curious, sceptical, or simply interested in having a good discussion about the stuff that matters.


What to expect

  • Dinner (free!)

  • A short talk

  • Table discussions (groups of 6–10), diving into that week’s question


Where

  • Costa Coffee, The Cut, SE1 8LP


Sample topics

  • Meaning: Isn’t there more to life than this?

  • Peace: How do we overcome anxiety?

SIGN UP FOR THE SALT COURSE

"Spiritual but not religious"

Sage and crystals, star signs and chakras. The modern West may be less religious than in the past, but it is no less spiritual. Many have traded Christianity, with its dos and don’ts, for spiritual practices offering transcendence without obligation. Yet, in the noisy and confusing marketplace of spiritual practices, many feel untethered and uncertain.

Does being “spiritual but not religious” offer the freedom it promises? Does it satisfy our souls’ deep ache for higher power?

Join speaker and author Simon Edwards as he explores this cultural shift towards spiritual autonomy and considers what the Christian faith says to our longing for liberty and transcendence.

Date: 7th October 2025
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Free
Location: London Nautical School, SE1 9NA

Sign up via Eventbrite

About our speaker

Simon Edwards is a speaker and writer. He originally hails from Australia, where he worked as a lawyer before moving to the UK to study at Oxford.

He is the author of The Sanity of Belief: Why Faith Makes Sense (2021) and has spoken internationally at churches, businesses, government institutions, conferences, and universities. In the UK, he has been interviewed for several BBC Radio programs, as well as Christian radio stations and podcasts.

Simon lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with his wife, Natasha, and their three young children.

SIGN UP VIA EVENTBRITE

Key dates for the autumn term

September is here already. Kids are heading back to school, it's getting cooler, and the wedding season is slowly coming to a close. As autumn begins, we wanted to share some key dates. Please put them in your calendar.


(...or subscribe to ours by pasting webcal://gracelondon.churchsuite.com/ical/embed.ics into Safari.)

Regular rhythms



Upper Room

Monthly, 7.30pm @ London Nautical School

Wednesday 1st October

Wednesday 5th November
Wednesday 3rd December



Together Sunday

Termly, 4.15pm @ Westminster Chapel
Sunday 28th September

It's a significant service for us with numerous baptisms and a dinner to celebrate Grace London's 11th birthday. Stick around afterwards for delicious food, £6 each. Kids go free.

Women’s Evening

Thursday 23rd October, 7-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

Join the women of Grace London as we spend time together, hearing God’s word and building each other up. Please save the date.



Men’s Retreat

6th-8th November @ De Vere Beaumont, SL4 2JJ

From Thursday evening to Saturday lunch, we’ll enjoy time chatting over food, worshipping, and hearing from Doug Fell, a pastor from Johannesburg. Sign up here.
 

Courses/Special events



Salt Live

Tuesday 7th October, 7.30-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

Salt Live is a series of talks on today's pressing issues and how the Christian faith speaks into them. Previous events include ‘The Crisis of Masculinity’ & ‘The Anxious Generation’.



Salt Course

Seven consecutive Tuesdays beginning 21st October. 7.30-9pm @ Location TBC

A space to explore life’s big questions from a Christian perspective. Find out more or express your interest here.



Foundations

Tuesday evenings beginning 21st October. 7-9.30pm @ London Nautical School

We'll explore the core beliefs and practices of the Christian faith and draw out their life-changing implications. Find out more or express your interest here.


Carols

Sunday 7th December, 4pm & 7pm @ Cheng Kin Ku Building, LSE

Faith, Questions, and Paninis

Luke Mathiesen recently started helping to lead the Salt Course. We got in touch to hear about his story, the course and why it resonates with Londoners today...

The first time I got involved in the Salt Course was in October 2022. My then-fiancé, now wife, Issy and I led a discussion group together. Since then, we’ve led a group on nearly every Salt Course. From the start, something resonated. It felt like exactly the kind of work I wanted to give myself to.

Leading alongside Issy has been a joy too. Looking back, I’m convinced it helped prepare us for marriage, and it continues to strengthen us to make disciples and share the hope of Christ. (Maybe Grace London should make Salt a compulsory part of marriage prep? Just saying.)

Real Conversations

One of the best things about the Salt Course is the depth of the conversations. There’s something about sitting down over a meal or hot drink that opens the door to genuine connection. It’s not uncommon for guests, even on the second session, to share vulnerably about mental health struggles or family bereavements. It’s a great privilege to walk with them and encourage them to look to Christ in these moments.


There are so few spaces in modern life for people to talk honestly about life’s big questions and our deepest struggles in a group setting like this. Outside of the church, it’s practically unheard of. But these conversations are normal at Salt, and the 25-minute talk that kicks off each evening gives plenty of subject matter for meaty conversation.

Recently, I’ve started giving a few of those 25-minute talks myself, alongside Harrison Clewes. It’s been a stretch, but a good one. Preparing these talks has forced me to read widely and think deeply about the intersection between faith and today's culture—what people are really struggling with in a secular city like London, and how the gospel meets those struggles head-on.

 
 

Luke & Izzy

Why Do I Keep Showing Up?

I care deeply about people finding peace and salvation in Christ. I was like many of our guests—burdened by life’s biggest questions and frustrated by how little the world could offer by way of real answers.

I’ve seen God's power working through the Salt Course; lives changed, hearts softened, and often the initial kindling of love for our Lord. It’s also not unusual for Salt guests to start coming to church services and getting plugged into community. Some of them are now in our life group. It’s a great encouragement.

Why Salt Works 

Many secular Londoners assume Christianity is irrelevant, outdated, or even harmful. But the Salt Course gently challenges that. The talks are designed to raise big questions people are already wrestling with—Is there meaning to life? How can I be happy? What does it mean to be a good person? We first highlight why these questions are so important before exposing how our secular societies’ answers prove woefully deficient and why Jesus is our only hope.

Salt isn’t just about intellectual arguments. It’s vital that our guests feel respected and listened to. Our discussions are hearty and require a level of vulnerability to truly engage with them. The job of the table leaders isn’t primarily about answering questions, but cultivating an environment where our guests feel they can truly discuss their deepest problems and are being listened to and loved in the process.

Thinking of Coming or Inviting a Friend?

Do it. Come along to Costa on a Tuesday night. Grab a panini and dive into conversations that matter. It’s relaxed, friendly, and I believe God loves it.

If you’re a Christian thinking of inviting someone, don’t overthink it. We’ve had many guests come along who knew little to nothing about Christianity, and we’ve seen God change lives time and time again. If there’s even a chance your friend might say yes—and if you care about their eternal destiny—it’s worth the invite.


The Salt Course runs for seven consecutive Tuesdays, starting 27th May, 7.30-9.15pm at Costa Coffee, SE1 8LP. Find out more here.

And I think to myself... what a weekend away

Our recent weekend away was one to remember. Raucous worship, plenty of laughter, profound teaching, beautiful scenery, and (amazingly!) skies of blue. Cue Louis Armstrong.

We spoke to some first-timers who shared their highlights. Read more below.

As we’ve only been coming to Grace Holborn for a few months, we were excited about the weekend away, and loved interacting with different cross-sections of Grace. We met many lovely people and heard about some of their journeys with the Lord, leaving encouraged by what God is doing in people’s lives, and compelled by Tim and Andrew’s exhortations to trust God in times of abundance/felt absence and be intentional about prayer! We were also adopted into the team that ended up bagging the victory at the games night!


Abraham (12): I loved the vastness of the grounds and being able to explore them with friends. Kids’ worship was also a highlight for me!

Jemima (9): The bonfire and games night were so fun, and I got to know some of the other kids better.

Sam, Li Ann, Abraham & Jemima

The weekend away allowed me to ground myself in the Word of God and the Spirit, while also being deeply convicting. I cherished the opportunity to connect with more people from the church, forming deep and meaningful relationships. It was truly delightful to step away from London life and embrace this retreat.

Tshepo

One highlight of our church weekend away was helping with the kids' work. We loved their energy and enthusiasm! Alban gave a talk explaining the resurrection and how Jesus has defeated death for us, which was quite a challenge given the wide age range of 2 to 12. Afterwards, it was wonderful to lead a prayer activity with them. Overall, it was a really special time seeing God at work in the youngest hearts.

Alban & Esther

The dedicated time spent worshipping ignited a fresh fire within me. One moment that stood out to me was when Andrew encouraged us to pray for prayerful hearts and invited us to pray in small groups. Hearing hundreds of voices lifting prayers to heaven gave me chills. It was a joyful, Spirit-filled weekend where the hunger for more of Jesus was truly tangible.

Tiffany

Bible & Brekkie

Ever scrolled through the Grace London WhatsApp community, stumbled across a group chat, and wondered, 'What is that?'

Maybe it's just me.

One chat you may have seen is the Women's Bible Study & Breakfast Club. The group has met at the church office every other Saturday morning since the beginning of January and is led by Bisi, Paulina and Naomi, who tell us more.

 
 

Bisi, Paulina & Naomi

It's been so amazing getting to know many new sisters from the Grace family as we've studied the Bible together. These Saturday mornings are a place to reconnect with friends we don't often see and make new ones.

We've been studying 1 Peter alongside a study guide from Jen Wilkin. We hear teaching, study in smaller groups, and use online resources to chew over the incredible truths found here - our inheritance in Christ, the call to look different from the world, and what it means to live sacrificially for Christ.

We're also practising different study techniques along the way, such as looking for links and repetition in biblical texts, the importance of context and pursuing the author's intentions for the text before exploring its present-day meaning for us. It has been rich and eye-opening, and I'm grateful for the amazing, raw, and honest discussions we've had as we've explored this text over an (extremely satisfying!) breakfast spread.

The time has been precious, and we're looking forward to studying many more books in the coming months. We want to create a space for any ladies who call Grace London their home to come and prioritise reading the word with other sisters.

 
 
 
 

What others are saying


Lisa

"When I first heard about the Saturday morning Bible study, I immediately shut it down because I like a slow Saturday morning and am a creature of habit! I missed the intro, but praise God for leading me to sign up for the second session. Now, I can't think of a better way to start my Saturday morning than Bible 'n' brekkie with the girls. I've met ladies from other services who I wouldn't normally bump into, and analysing the word to the depth that Jen Wilkins's book encourages us to is mind-blowing."


Rachel

“So much kindness, wisdom, prayers & testimonies shared amongst sisters. Sometimes scripture can be confusing, but having the space and time to zoom in on a passage with other believers is a real privilege. I’ve learnt some transformative ways to study the Bible! Plus, there are charcuterie boards...”
 

If you'd like to join for the remainder of our sessions on 1 Peter or find out when we're starting our next study, please join our Bible study breakfast WhatsApp group via the Grace London WhatsApp Community.

 

Events you won't want to miss

The church's unity is only possible through the Holy Spirit drawing us together in love. In that sense, it's supernatural. Left to ourselves, we prefer only comfortable isolation or tight cliques. We need the Spirit for deep and diverse community to thrive.

We would love for you to get stuck into this community that the Holy Spirit is building. If you're new to Grace London, please push yourself out of your comfort zone, throw yourself in, and join us in all God is doing here.

Practically, here are some events for your calendars. Do take a read and sign up!

Weekend Away '25

25th - 27th April @ Ashburnham Place

In just two months, we'll head to the Sussex countryside for one of the year's highlights. There'll be worship, teaching, fun and relaxation, delicious food and plenty of quality time together. We will also have social time together including meals, walks, outdoor activities and Saturday evening entertainment.

Sign up for our Weekend Away.

 
 

Together Sunday

Sunday 30th March, 4.30pm @ Westminster Chapel, SW1E 6BS

Every few months, we gather our three congregations in one service for a Together Sunday. To mark the occasion, we're serving up a jerk chicken feast (see below). Vegan option available. Please sign up for food in advance (£5 if you sign up now or £10 on the day).

Sign up for our Together Sunday dinner.

 
 
 

Women's Day

Saturday 15th March, 10am - 4pm @ London Nautical School

Our upcoming Women's Day is an excellent way to form deep friendships and encourage each other in the faith. The topic for the day is, Every Moment Holy: How worship transforms all of life.

Sign up for our Women's Day.

 
 

Men's Retreat

Thursday 30th October - Saturday 1st November @ De Vere Beaumont

From experience, the Men's Retreat is an investment worth making. We'll hear how God's word speaks to us, particularly as men, and spend time over good food and (probably) a campfire. If finance is an issue, please let us know. Email info@grace.london and we can make a plan.

Sign up for our Men's Retreat.

 
 

Grace London Wants You

I’ll refrain from fully impersonating Lord Kitchener (that moustache is beyond my capabilities), but you have to admit it was an effective recruitment campaign during World War I.

There are currently many people, both employees and volunteers, who work together to facilitate everything happening at Grace London. We’re deeply grateful for each of these people and I’m always so encouraged whenever I see the church family come together to serve one another.

You may or may not know, but alongside our ongoing need for volunteers on Sunday service teams, we have some opportunities to join the Grace London staff team in pastoral and operational roles. If you’d consider working for Grace, or perhaps know someone who would, take a look at the job descriptions below and get in touch if you feel drawn towards any of them.


Children’s Ministry Lead


We are seeking a leader to oversee and nurture our growing children’s ministry. In this role, you will steward and communicate our vision for the ministry, manage and support the volunteer team, and design engaging curriculum and Sunday teaching for our children’s groups. You will also play a vital role in integrating the children’s ministry into the broader life of the church – collaborating with the staff team, communicating with families, and fostering greater awareness and involvement within the church community.


See full job description.


Pastoral Residency


The Pastoral Residency is designed to offer a pathway into church ministry for those who have limited or no prior experience. There are general contours to the role described in the job description below. But there is also the opportunity to design a more person-specific role in accordance with age, experience, gifting, and so on. We would expect a Pastoral Resident to work as a generalist and get involved in various aspects of ministry and church life. The aim is to give broad exposure to church ministry and pastoral leadership, enabling growth in different areas.


See full job description.

Operations Coordinator


This role is one of a team of three Operations Coordinators. Each takes an operational lead for each of our three congregations at Grace London - Waterloo AM (10am), Holborn (11:30am) and Waterloo PM (5pm). The Operations Coordinator takes responsibility for the logistics of a Sunday service, including leading volunteers and organising the various events related to the particular congregation. The role also includes the ongoing administration related to the congregation, such as managing the Welcome process and working with the whole Operations team to deliver church-wide events, such as Upper Room or Church Weekend Away.


See full job description.


Sunday Volunteers


We are always looking for those willing and able to serve on one of our Sunday service teams. Our Sunday volunteers are essential in facilitating our gatherings and there are multiple ways that you get involved, including Hospitality, Kids, Tech, Venue, and Worship. Please fill out the form below (less than 2 mins!) if you’re interested in joining any of these teams.


Join a serving team form.

Bored and addicted to our phones

Less than 20 years after the birth of the iPhone, screens have become the dominant presence in modern life. We work, plan, socialise, read, and entertain ourselves through them. Barely a minute goes by without a pick-up. 

And yet, we’re increasingly aware that too much screen time is harmful. Heightened anxiety from constant doomscrolling. Brain-rot from too much YouTube. Insecurity from perpetual comparison. We’re bored and addicted to our phones.  

We feel like something is wrong. But buying a dumbphone or reducing screen time isn’t enough. What if the problem is deeper? Do we need to understand the roots of our habits?

Behind our restless scrolling is a longing for deep connection. Underneath our influencer-obsession is a search for wisdom. We don’t have a way of dealing with pain, so we distract ourselves with hours of mindless entertainment. What if there’s a better way? 

How do we reimagine what it means to be human in the digital age? Join us as Jeremy explores the roots of our screen habits and considers how the ancient truths of the Christian faith give us a better vision of human flourishing.


Date: Tuesday 4th February
Time: 7.30pm
Price: Free
Location: London Nautical School, SE1 9NA


We would love to see you there and please consider who you could invite. Expect a thought-provoking talk, lots of nibbles, and plenty of time for Q&A. But even if you can't make it, please join us in prayer. Our Salt Live events allow those who would never usually step foot in a church to hear the gospel. Pray that lives will be changed!

Sign up via eventbrite

Notices and Events

Giving

If you call Grace London your home, please consider giving financially to support the work of the church. You can find all the details you'll need on our website here. Please email the finance team if you have any questions (accounts@grace.london).

Pre-service Prayer

Prayer is vital to the church. We pray before each service and ask God to be powerfully at work among the church congregation. Anyone is welcome to join! 9.15am & 4.15pm @ LNS Staff Room | 10.45am @ Holborn crèche area.

Winter clothes collection

If you have any spare winter clothes (coats, jumpers, gloves, etc), please consider donating them. We're taking a collection to give to the homeless people we know through Webber Street. Drop them off in the container at the back of our Waterloo services or contact Amy.

Jemima, David & Tom's reflections

Our Weekend Away may feel like a daunting prospect if you’re new to Grace, but it needn't. It's one of the best opportunities to meet others and build relationships. Some of my best Grace London memories - and indeed friendships - have been forged here.

Jemima, David & Tom came on our Weekend Away last June. It was their first experience, so we asked them to share how they found it.

The Weekend Away was such a highlight of this year! Not only was I challenged and encouraged by the teaching, but it really helped me to feel more part of the church family. I loved having time to strengthen friendships and get to know new people!

Jemima

Amid the fast pace London, it's easy to forget to slow down and hear God's still small voice. The Weekend Away provided me with a safe opportunity to do that within the warmth of community. I was able to experience God's presence in such a familiar yet refreshing way through alone time, conversations, worship and the Word.

David

It was captivating having a series of sermons over two days, which gave a narrow and wide lens perspective on the story of Jonah. 

The games evening on Saturday was full of thrills, laughs and entertaining yet impressive performances during various challenges. It was a great (and very joyful) way to bring the church together.

Tom

If you'd like to sign up, now is the time! Early bird discount ends (1st March) so book your ticket below.

Book now

We're Hiring

We’re in an exciting season of change in the life of our church. As we gather together on Sundays and attend our midweek Life Groups, it may feel like not much has changed recently, particularly if you attend one of our Waterloo services. However, behind-the-scenes at Grace London HQ, there is a growing complexity in how we facilitate church life, especially since we established another congregation in Holborn. Across three congregations in two locations, volunteer teams are growing, more newcomers are coming through the doors and our financial operations are becoming increasingly important as our church family expands.

With this in mind, I’m pleased to say that we have two new vacancies on the staff team; one is for an Operations Coordinator to take charge of operations related to one of our congregations, and the other is for a part-time Finance Officer to run the day-to-day financial operations at Grace London.

You can find out more about both roles below, including details on how to apply. If you’re drawn to either of these roles, then I’d love to hear from you. Or perhaps there’s someone you know that would be interested? In any case, please pray that God will continue to bless us with His wisdom and that the right people come along to strengthen our operational muscle.

Operations Coordinator


This role is one of a team of three Operations Coordinators. Each takes an operational lead for each of our three congregations at Grace London - Waterloo AM (10am), Holborn (11:30am) and Waterloo PM (5pm). The Operations Coordinator takes responsibility for the logistics of a Sunday service, including leading volunteers and organising the various events related to the particular congregation. The role also includes the ongoing administration related to the congregation, such as managing the Welcome process, as well as working with the whole Operations team to deliver church-wide events, such as Upper Room or Church Weekend Away.

View job description.

Finance Officer

 

The Finance Officer plays an important role in the life of Grace London in ensuring that the church’s finances are well-managed and accurately tracked. There is a variety of regular tasks in the day-to-day finance operations that need to be fulfilled in order to maintain the smooth running of the church and the effective stewardship of our finances. The role sits within a broader Finance Team, largely made up of volunteers, who assist with budgeting, reporting and strategy.

View job description.

We’re also looking for an experienced pastor to join our team. Head to our vacancies page to find out more.

What's happening in December?

Many of us are nailing down Christmas plans. There’s a rush of activity as we coordinate hosting duties and travel arrangements, and fill up our schedules. So, to help you plan well, we wanted to share what’s happening in church life during the festive season. Please note these events in your calendar, as we’d love to see you there and celebrate this time together.

Carols

Sunday 1st December, 4pm* & 7pm @ Cheng Kin Ku Building, WC2A 3LJ

Our Christmas celebration is one of the highlights of the year. Join us for carols, a message and plenty of festive treats. Do consider who you could bring along! No need to sign up.

*There will be children's groups at the 4pm service only.

Upper Room

Wednesday 4th December, 7.30pm @ London Nautical School

Upper Room is one of our regular church rhythms. On the first Wednesday of the month, we gather to praise God and intercede for our church and city. We hope to see you for our last Upper Room of 2024.
 

Webber Street Christmas Meal

Thursday 5th December, 6.30pm

Each month, we support homeless people in Waterloo by providing a meal, a listening ear, and an opportunity to hear the gospel. We’re making our meal in December extra special by cooking a Christmas dinner, baking festive treats, and writing Christmas cards for our guests. Location TBC.

If you’d like to help volunteer on the day, bake or write cards, contact Amy (amy@grace.london).

December/Jan services

Rachel and the Salt Course

Rachel first attended the Salt Course in 2022. Since then, she's become a member of Grace London and a Salt Course facilitator herself. She shared her experience with us and her advice to those considering joining the upcoming course.

(The Salt Course is a space to explore life’s big questions from a Christian perspective. Each week involves dinner, a short talk, and discussion in groups. The next course begins on 29th October, 7.30–9.15pm @ Costa Coffee, SE1 8LP. Sign up here.)

 

Tell us about yourselves.

I was born and raised in Malaysia and have lived in the UK for seven years. I hadn’t planned to stay for long, but every year, I found myself saying, "Maybe one more year”. And here I am still!

Currently, I’m a physiotherapist working with amputees and prosthetic rehabilitation. I discovered Grace through a friend and attended my first service just before Grace London’s 8th birthday celebration. 


What was your first impression of the Salt Course?

When I first came across the Salt Course, I was not a member of Grace but was intrigued and decided to attend. It was a great opportunity to bring a few friends for whom I was praying. My first impression was free food, passionate leaders and a welcoming atmosphere. 

The sessions challenged me, and I faced questions I hadn't considered before. The experience helped deepen my faith as I conversed with people from many backgrounds and faiths. It felt comfortable, non-judgemental, and a safe space to ask questions.

I’ve also made a few lifelong friends from the Salt Course, one of whom has continued to walk with me as a mentor-like figure and a dear sister in Christ. You never know who you’ll meet!
 

What would you say to someone considering the course for themselves?

Why not! Sacrificing seven Tuesday evenings may seem like a big commitment, but I’m glad I made room. I made room for new questions, new perspectives and new memories. We all come from individual backgrounds, rationales, and experiences. An environment like the Salt Course doesn’t intend to create division through different perspectives but understanding and a path to truth. Attending both initially and as a facilitator has affirmed that there’s beauty in vulnerability and questions - and at some point, we all need them answered.

Do you have any advice for those considering inviting a friend to the course?

I’m so glad I brought mine. It’s been a privilege to witness how God has moved in their lives and my own. Pray for eyes to see those around you the way Jesus does. Be bold and ask. You’re probably in the best position to do so and are more equipped than you think you are. Even if it ends with a rejection or it’s perhaps not the right time, the seed’s been sown.

sign up here
 

The Case Against Secularism

We plan our Salt Live events with curious Londoners in mind. Each of these evangelistic speaker events addresses a topical issue and considers how the Christian faith speaks into it. Expect a high-quality talk, lots of drinks and nibbles, a warm atmosphere, and plenty of time for Q&A. Find out about our upcoming Salt Live below.

The Case Against Secularism: Why faith makes sense in the modern age
Tuesday 15th October, 7.30-9.15pm @ London Nautical School

For centuries, secularism has been heralded as humanity’s golden bullet. Society will flourish if we reject religion, so we’ve been told. No more truth, intolerance or control. 

But over recent years, a wave of backlash has formed. Feminist thinkers have slammed secular ethics, cultural Christianity is on the rise, and prominent atheist figures have come to faith. Meanwhile, a ‘meaning crisis’ is quietly brewing as many struggle to find significance in a world emptied of religion and purpose.

Has secularism overpromised? Are we really better off in a society without faith? And how can we find significance for our lives in secularism’s crumbling shadow?

About our speaker:

Glen Scrivener is a regular speaker at universities, churches and other public forums across the UK. He directs Speak Life, a Christian digital media company, and has authored several books, including The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality. Originally from Australia, he lives in Eastbourne with his wife Emma and their two children.

sign up here
 

Nick & Jenn's reflections

Although we officially introduced Foundations only a few weeks ago, a three-month pilot of the course finished on Tuesday. We asked Nick and Jenn, who attended the pilot, to tell us about themselves and their reflections.

Tell us a bit about yourselves.

Nick: I was raised in Singapore and moved to London in August 2021 to pursue a master’s degree at LSE. My wife, Jenn, and I found Grace after a friend recommended it. We loved the Word, worship, and community and quickly settled in, joining Caleigh, Julie and Zach’s life group.

Jenn: I was born in Indonesia before moving to Singapore when I was four. I moved to London in 2021 to accompany Nick as he pursued further studies, and currently, I work as an Interior Designer.
 


Why did you decide to attend Foundations?

N: I've always been interested in learning about Jesus and have started reading the Bible more earnestly over recent months. Despite being a believer for most of my life, I had faith that the Lord would continue to speak to me at the course.
 


Was it what you expected?

J: Having attended church from a young age, I expected to hear things I already knew. However, the course prompted me to reassess my convictions and to pursue my own understanding of God rather than relying solely on others. It motivated me to discover a personal relationship with Jesus and seek a deeper connection with my Saviour.

Jenn and Nick

What was your biggest takeaway from the course? 

N: Week seven's discussion on growth was especially memorable. Daniel shared that as we grow in spiritual maturity, we become more aware of sin, and it pains us more than before. The fact that I am more conscious of my sin shows that God is working in me.

J: Week four's discussion on scripture altered my view of the Word and my relationship with the Bible, particularly as someone who previously struggled reading it. Now, I am committed to reading the Bible daily.
 


What would you say to someone considering Foundations? 

N: Foundations welcomes both new and seasoned believers! Trust that the Lord will reveal his Word to you in fresh ways.

J: There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain; go with an open heart and mind. Foundations has pivotally shaped my understanding of God’s Word and left us hungry for more.

Our upcoming Foundations course has reached capacity, but if you’d like to join the waiting list for the next one, please email info@grace.london. Find out more here.

Foundations | A new course

Understanding God and his word strengthens us. It gives us more stability in difficult times, confidence in evangelism, and motivation to live for Him. Many of us know these benefits, but we struggle to find the time or willpower to go deeper. The prospect of self-directed study can feel daunting or beyond our current capacity.

We have set up Foundations to address this exact challenge. Over nine weeks, we will explore the core beliefs and practices of the Christian faith and draw out their life-changing implications. This course is a space where you can wrestle with your questions, firm up your convictions and chart a course towards deeper spiritual formation.

When

  • Nine consecutive Tuesday evenings from 7.15pm. Beginning Tuesday 28th May.

Where

  • Oval House (SW9)

Who

  • You might be a long-time Christian wanting a deeper understanding of the faith to articulate it better and live it out well. You might be wrestling with doubts and questions and looking for clarity. You might be new to the faith and want a fuller understanding of what God calls you to. All are welcome.

Content

  • Each week we will explore a foundational belief or practice of the Christian faith. These include:
     

  1. God: Delving into the nature and character of the Almighty

  2. Man: Exploring the beauty, brokenness and redemption of humanity

  3. Gospel: Grasping the good news that saves and transforms

  4. Scripture: Learning to cherish and delight in God’s word

  5. Prayer: Confidently approaching the throne of grace

  6. Community: Being a part of the family of God

  7. Growth (Part 1): Dying to sin

  8. Growth (Part 2): Living to righteousness

  9. Worship: Living for God in all of life

     

If you have any questions, please contact Daniel via email (daniel@grace.london) or speak to him after one of our Sunday services.

Modern life stinks

Part of the evangelical witness right now should be to point out that modern life stinks. Its technology makes us lonely. Its sexuality makes us empty. Its psychotherapy makes us self-obsessed. Many people are on the brink of oblivion, held back in some cases only by medication or political identity. We struggle to articulate why we should continue to live.

– Samuel James


In some ways, the effort to do apologetics (i.e. make a defence of the Christian faith) gets easier and more straightforward as our culture moves further away from God. Eventually, a world without God and without his truth gets so dark that people begin to wonder what’s gone wrong, and they start to grope around searching for a light.

Our Salt Live events are an effort to engage in cultural apologetics. We want to hone in on those aspects of modern life where people are feeling the pain, the confusion, or the inadequacy of existence without God, and then show them the way back to him. With that in mind, I'm thrilled to announce our next Salt Live event:

 

The Age of Self-Obsession: Is narcissism slowly destroying us?

Tuesday, 6th February at 7.30pm

 

Jeremy will be wrestling with the phenomenon of self-obsession expressed in all the ways we are encouraged to put ourselves first, step into the spotlight, turn our gaze inward. And he’ll show how this has led us into deeper misery and isolation.

How can we resist the culture of self? How can we begin to find freedom through self-forgetfulness? And what is the real path to happiness if not a focus on ourselves?

We would love for the church family to come to this, not least so that we all can get sharper at cultural apologetics. But more importantly, we would love for you to start thinking about who you will invite.

find out more


Weekend Away & more

There is something great about spending day-to-day life together in a family. The car journeys, supermarket trips or nights in, though seemingly very ordinary, are where relationships are formed and we get to know each another deeply. And yet there is also something wonderfully exciting about the family holiday—a long weekend, week, or fortnight away from the city. We leave the mundane, the distractions and the life admin to have uninterrupted time together. Many of our fondest memories are made here.

We need both the ordinary and the extra special, and life in the family of God is much the same. The Israelite rhythm of the year followed times of regular sacrifice and thanksgiving, interrupted by longer festivals dedicated to remembering God's goodness and feasting together. Both are necessary and good for our souls.

Here at Grace, we have planned a number of church events aside from our regular weekly meetings. Our church weekend away and men's and women's events allow us to spend extended time as a church family and hear from God together. 

Although you can't sign up to them yet, we'd love to have you there, so make sure to put the following dates in your calendar.

Weekend Away

28th - 30th June 2024

Join us from Friday night to Sunday afternoon for our church weekend away. We'll be heading back to Ashburnham place. We look forward to a weekend packed full of good teaching, times of worship, combined with plenty of fun and laughter. 

Women's Events

Thursday 23rd November, 7.30pm @ LNS
Saturday 2nd March, 10.30am - 5pm @ LNS
Thursday 13th June, 7.30pm @ LNS

The women of Grace London will be holding several events throughout 2023-24, with a focus on hearing from God and building relationships together. They are a great opportunity for us to apply God's word practically to our lives and spend time together. 

Men's Event

17th - 20th April 2024

Join us from Wednesday evening to Saturday as we enjoy fellowship together and explore how scripture speaks to us, particularly as men. We will hear from God's word, consider how it applies to our lives, and spend quality time together.

Stories from the Salt Course

We're delighted to announce the next Salt Course is starting on the 24th October. 

We've been running the course for a number of years now, and have had the privilege of hosting hundreds of curious Londoners for meaty discussions about life's big questions.

The premise is simple. Each week, we have food together, a thought-provoking talk on the subject and then plenty of time to discuss that week's question in groups. Guests come from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs. For many guests, it's a way of exploring the Christian faith. For others, it's a context to bring their thoughts and objections. Each week explores a different question, including:

Meaning: Isn't there more to life than this?
Satisfaction: How can I be happy?
Truth: Who can I trust?
Morality: How can I be good?
Hope: Is there a future for humanity?
Peace: How do we overcome anxiety?

The next course starts on Tuesday 24th October and runs for six consecutive Tuesday evenings (until 28th November). Find out more at www.saltcourse.co.uk. This week, we asked Chloe & Tom, who did the course last year, to share some of their reflections.

"I grew up Catholic and was always attending church on Sunday, but I felt like it was an obligation and so never really formed a genuine relationship with God. Faith very much felt like something that I should tick off my list as a way to obey my parents. So, I ended up drifting away in my teenage years. 

I heard about Salt at a Sunday service. I'm generally quite open-minded, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to just go for one session. I ended up attending the whole course and there was one discussion about practising forgiveness towards other people and yourself which particularly stuck with me. As someone who has grown up lacking in self-compassion and who has experienced church hurt, it was an important conversation to have and I remember the group being very supportive.

It's really cool to see how much I've changed and grown over the last year or so. I have really come out of the other side knowing that God has always been there with me even when I didn't think he was."

Chloe

"Something has always drawn me to the countercultural aspect of Christianity. When I moved away for university, I had a countercultural ‘Christian’ zeal inside of me, but never had a church community or the time to really consider who Jesus was. It just all seemed a bit too complicated for me and I never felt like I had the tools to look into it. That's where the Salt Course really helped me.

The course was an explorative discussion and an environment where you could pose questions that didn't have to sound intelligent. It was for everyone. I was a bit worried that the course wouldn’t properly address common objections to the Bible and Jesus, but the talks actively engaged with these.

The Salt Course played a pivotal role in my Christian journey, as it allowed me to deeply look into Christianity, and led me to acknowledge and love Christ. Now, I truly believe that Christ is Lord and came as God in the flesh to die for us. And I think when you believe that, you're hooked!"

Tom