GERMAN LUTHERAN MINISTRY LONDON-EAST
Deutsche Evangelische Gemeinden London-Ost
The German Church Sydenham was founded in 1876 by wealthy German businessmen and craftsmen who moved from the dirty city of London to the quiet suburb of Forest Hill. In the second world war, the church building was destroyed by German bombs. In 1959, a new building was erected on the site, which today is the centre of the church life.
The building includes the church, a community hall and function rooms, which are used by numerous groups: The German congregations with its groups and events, the German Saturday School, the Ichthus Fellowship, the German Kindergarten and the flute ensemble "Bonhoeffer Consort" as well as the Bonhoeffer Choir.
The Dietrich Bonhoeffer church is place of encounter for people of many different backgrounds.
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Church Service
A service (in German) is celebrated at Bonhoeffer Church on the fourth Sunday of every month.
In 2023 we are planning Family Services in the afternoon on the 9 April, 9 July, 10 October and 12 November. Further details will be published in due course.
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Southern Congregations
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The congregation also includes four external southern groups. Here, too, there are regular worship services and afternoon talks:
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Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Gemeinde in Sydenham, Forest Hill
Review - St. Martin
On Sunday, November 12th, the Dietrich-Bonhoeffer Church invited people to its traditional Saint Martin festival. After a short prayer, we went to the park with our lanterns, some of which we made ourselves, where there was a lot of singing to the accompaniment of trumpets. Afterwards we were able to warm up with mulled wine, children's punch and delicious food in the nicely decorated church. We were very happy to welcome so many visitors. Thank you to all the helpers.
Many more people than expected came and raised a proud £907.28! This is partly down to all those who helped! £453.64 will go to LewCAS (https://www.lewcas.org.uk/ ) and the other half will go to our church.
It was really fun - see you next year!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Sydenham around 1934
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was the minister of the German congregation from 1933 to 1935. The congregation feels a special responsibility to cherish his spiritual and ethical legacy to this day.
D. Bonhoeffer with confirmees
The church around 1937