History of St George's IOC, London

St George’s Indian Orthodox Church, London

St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church, London – A Brief History

Origins and Early Years (1970s)

The roots of St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church, London, can be traced back to the early 1970s when Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, during one of his pastoral visits, organized the St. Gregorios Prayer Fellowship. This fellowship laid the foundation for regular Orthodox services at St. Andrew’s-by-the-Wardrobe Church in Blackfriars, London.

Formation of St. Gregorios Orthodox Parish (1976)

In 1976, as part of the reorganization of the diaspora Orthodox community, the Diocese of Bombay, under the leadership of Metropolitan Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, formally recognized the London congregation as St. Gregorios Orthodox Parish. This was a crucial milestone in establishing a structured Orthodox presence in Central London, catering to the growing Malayalee Orthodox Christian community.

The parish has been blessed to conduct regular Sunday services in the heart of London since 1978 at the historic St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church, thanks to the generosity of the Church of England. This achievement was made possible through the relentless efforts of Rev. Fr. K.A. George, who secured the church building with the support of the Lord Bishop of London. In August 1979, H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews I sanctified the church and celebrated the Holy Qurbana, marking a significant spiritual milestone for the community.

Expansion and Growth

To accommodate the increasing number of faithful, the parish expanded its presence beyond St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church. In 2005, the church hall of St. Peter’s, Brockley, was secured through dedicated efforts, and the dedication and consecration ceremony was conducted by H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, the then Diocesan Bishop, on January 1, 2005. Since then, the parish has maintained two active worship locations—

St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church, Central London
St. Gregorios Church, Brockley, London

For decades, these locations have remained spiritual centers where the congregation faithfully observed the Holy Eucharistic services every Sunday.

Evolution into St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church

With the growing presence of Indian Orthodox faithful in London, the congregation saw the need for further reorganization. In November 2022, the regular Sunday service conducted at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church was relocated to St. Margaret Pattens Church, Eastcheap, London, marking the beginning of St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church.

This transition ensures that the Indian Orthodox community in Central London continues to have a dedicated place of worship, upholding its rich liturgical traditions and spiritual heritage.

Summary of Indian Orthodox Church Worship in Central London

Early Worship at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Blackfriars (Since 1978)
- The Indian Orthodox (Malankara Orthodox Syrian) Church has held regular Sunday services at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, Blackfriars since 1978.
- It was the only regular place of worship for Indian Orthodox Christians in the UK at the time, with some worshippers traveling up to 120 miles to attend services.
- Sources:
Services at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe (2000–2002)
- The Holy Liturgy was conducted every Sunday at 9 AM during this period.
- Source: Indian Orthodox Church UK
Expansion to St. Peter’s Church Hall, Brockley (2005)
- In 2005, the parish expanded by acquiring St. Peter’s Church Hall, Brockley, allowing for additional services.
- Despite this, St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe remained a central place of worship.
- Source: IOC London
Two Worship Locations in London (2011)
- By 2011, the Indian Orthodox Church had two locations for worship in London:
  - Brockley (St. Peter’s Church Hall)
  - Blackfriars (St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe)
- Source: Brockley Central
Evolution into St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church
- With the growing presence of Indian Orthodox faithful in London, the congregation saw the need for further reorganization. In November 2022, the regular Sunday service conducted at St. Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church was relocated to St. Margaret Pattens Church, Eastcheap, London, as St. George’s Indian Orthodox Church.
  This transition ensures that the Indian Orthodox community in Central London continues to have a dedicated place of worship, upholding its rich liturgical traditions and spiritual heritage.