Our community is mostly composed of French people, often permanently established in London, sometimes short term. It also includes many French-speaking families wishing to live a Protestant way of life. We currently number about thirty children in our midst.
OUR COMMUNITY
The church’s very central location, its history, architecture and remarkable library are a draw to many, some travelling far to meet the community and take part in its spiritual life.
Pastor Pascale Renaud-Grosbras, together with a dynamic Consistory, guarantee the smooth running of the Church.
THE PASTOR
Pascale Renaud-Grosbras, pastor of the United Protestant Church of France (Eglise Protestante Unie de France), arrived from his previous post in Paris in the summer of 2023.
She officiates at most Sunday services. She is also in charge of children’s Sunday school. She regularly attends meetings with other members of Westminster’s churches (see for more information the website of Churches Together in Westminster).
THE CONSISTORY
Led by its president Fabien Lerede, the Consistory is the hub around which turn the life, the activity and the smooth running of the French Protestant Church in Soho.
It is made up of 9 members, some of whom hold a more defined role than others – secretary, finance officer/treasurer, librarian… A somewhat larger team assists them on various projects.
OUR ORGANIST
Eleni Keventsidou is serving our community with talent and competence since September 2023. Eleni has graduated from the Athens National Conservatory on the piano with a unanimous First Prize and the Royal Academy of Music with Distinction where she studied the organ with Nicolas Kynaston and David Titterington. In 2007 she was awarded the Artistic Director’s Prize at Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition in Kaliningrad. Eleni obtained her PhD on a full studentship at Canterbury Christ Church University (2016).
Eleni has performed in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, UK, France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Finland, Poland, USA.
She has recorded at Royal Festival Hall, Rugby School, Royal Hospital School, St. Alphage and Selby Abbey.
She has been teaching piano-organ at Rugby School and organ at Eltham College.
THE TRUST
The Trust, which controls and manages the assets bequeathed by Huguenot descendants, is made up of three members appointed by the Consistory and six to ten external Trustees who, though not members of the Soho Church, are descended from Huguenots. The income from Trust funds is allocated to the day-to-day running of the church (Church fund), to educational charitable purposes (Education fund) and to the alleviation of poverty (Hardship fund).
CEEEFE MEMBERSHIP
The French Protestant Church in London is a member of the Communion of French-speaking Protestant Churches (CEEEFE*), affiliated to the Protestant Federation of France.
Its vice-president Thibault Lavergne, pictured in the foreground of the photograph on the left, is vice-president of our church’s consistory.
Linking around thirty churches throughout the world, the Communion is dedicated to the exchange of information and people, mutual financial aid, joint action, theological animation and reciprocal challenge.
Publication: Annual newsletter, available from: Fédération Protestante de France, 47 rue de Clichy, 75311 Paris Cedex 09, or from the church bookstall.
*formerly known as Communauté d’Églises Évangéliques d’expression française à l’extérieur