Lineage of Legends

United Kingdom · 1954 – today

The Unification Movementin the United Kingdom

From a Korean student in Swansea in 1954, to the first appointed missionary arriving in April 1965, through the Daily Mail libel case, the Lancaster Gate years, and True Father's seven UK visits — a chronological reading of the British Unification Movement, drawn from the movement's own published history.

History of the Unification Movement in the United Kingdom 1965–2014 (HSA-UWC), archived at tparents.org.
Compare with another country →All countries
Era 1

I. Seeding

1954 – 1965

David S.C. Kim · Young Oon Kim · True Father

The Divine Principle reaches the UK quietly — first through a Korean student in Swansea, then through the first appointed missionary in London — and within three months True Father is on British soil choosing a Holy Ground in Kensington Gardens.

1954

David S.C. Kim arrives in Swansea

Rev. David S.C. Kim enrols at Swansea University (then part of the University of Wales) and becomes the first person to introduce the Divine Principle in the United Kingdom. Among his early contacts is Rev. Joshua McCabe of the Apostolic Church, who travels to Korea for 80 days to study with Rev. Kim and helps with the first English translation of the Divine Principle.

Source →
26 April 1965

Dr Young Oon Kim — first appointed missionary

Dr Young Oon Kim arrives in the UK as the first official missionary of the Unification Movement. In those days the organisation is called "The Unified Family". She has three months to lay the foundation for True Father's first visit.

Source →
14 – 20 July 1965

True Father's first visit · Holy Ground in Kensington Gardens

Rev. Moon arrives at Heathrow from Madrid on 14 July, accompanied by Mrs Won Pok Choi and President Hyo Won Eu. On 15 July he chooses a damaged London plane tree in Kensington Gardens — near the Peter Pan statue — as the National Holy Ground, because "its damaged condition represented the state of the nation". His first recorded UK speech, "Our Mission is Great", is given on 17 July in a Mayfair house. Sir Anthony Brooke (the last Rajah Muda of Sarawak) is among the welcoming party of seven.

Source →
Era 2

II. Founding

1965 – 1969

Sandi Pinkerton · June Darby · the Hardman sisters · Marion Dougherty

Three women from the British Commonwealth — "the first three pioneers in the UK were all women" — gather around Sandi Pinkerton and Young Oon Kim. By 29 July 1968 they are a registered British charity.

Late 1965

Sandi Pinkerton sent from the USA to pioneer London

After the Blessing of Holy Grounds worldwide, True Father sends Sandi Pinkerton from the United States to London, with Dr Young Oon Kim becoming responsible for the European Movement.

Source →
December 1966

First UK centre at 17 Emperor's Gate, South Kensington

June Darby — witnessed to on holiday in Italy that August by Doris Walder (Orme) and Martin Porter — joins Sandi in London. The first centre is established at 17 Emperor's Gate.

Source →
29 July 1968

HSA-UWC founded as a UK registered charity

June Darby, Evelyn Hardman, Patricia Hardman and Marion Dougherty register the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity as an educational charity in the UK. The movement soon outgrows Emperor's Gate and takes a seven-bedroom house in Streatham, south of the Thames.

Source →
20 – 24 March 1969

True Father's second visit · with True Mother

True Father and True Mother — pregnant with their third son Hyun Jin Nim — visit London together for the first time. Forty members from across Europe squeeze into the Streatham centre "like sardines". During the visit Miss Kim consults with True Father on Blessing candidates; Doris Walder is matched to Dennis Orme, who has joined only a few months earlier. Members are asked to pray from midnight to 3 a.m. for 120 days for the new couple.

Source →
1969

European Blessing of 8 Couples

Eight European couples — including Doris Walder & Dennis Orme — are blessed by True Father in Germany. This becomes the spine of European leadership for the next two decades.

Source →
Era 3

III. Expansion

1970 – 1977

Dennis & Doris Orme · the IOWC · Cleeve House · Lancaster Gate

Britain is named "in position of Eve" in a 1972 speech and the movement expands fast — twelve cities, a print works, a farm, a Cornish fishing venture — culminating in the 1977 rental of 42 Lancaster Gate from the Norwegian Embassy as the national headquarters.

19 March 1972

True Father names Great Britain "in position of Eve"

In a speech of 19 March 1972, True Father explains that Britain — by virtue of its role in the world wars and its centuries of Christian missionary sending — stands in the position of Eve in the providence. The same year the movement expands to twelve UK cities.

Source →
February 1974

Fourth visit · "England will be completely clobbered"

True Father visits Britain and announces a coming surge: "The time will come when I bring many thousands of the International Mobile Team from America. I think that England will be completely clobbered. I think 3,000 Unification Church members will completely overwhelm Britain."

Source →
1974

Fifth visit · Third ICUS Conference

True Father returns later in 1974 for the third International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences — the academic outreach project that will become a defining feature of the 1970s and 1980s providence.

Source →
1975 – 1976

Cleeve House and a network of centres

By 1976 around fifteen centres are established in the UK. On-going workshops run at the farm near Swindon, at Cleeve House, in Dunbar, and at Lancaster Gate HQ. A print works is set up; in 1977 a fishing venture starts in Falmouth, Cornwall with two line-fishing boats — including Baby Lion, built by Ed Stacey — selling mackerel across the south of England.

Source →
Summer 1977

42 Lancaster Gate rented as national HQ

No. 42 Lancaster Gate — previously a nurses' hostel — is rented from the Norwegian Embassy and becomes the British national headquarters of the Unification Movement. It is finally purchased in 1979.

Source →
Era 4

IV. Trial by fire

1978 – 1988

Daily Mail libel case · the Attorney General · Dennis Orme

True Father's seventh visit (over 120 days — the longest he ever spent in any country outside Korea, Japan or the US) coincides with the Daily Mail's "church that breaks up families" campaign. What follows is a decade-long legal siege.

7 May 1978

True Father's seventh visit · longest outside the centre nations

True Parents arrive at Heathrow as a complete surprise to European members. They are delayed three hours by immigration before being granted temporary admission; an extension is later won in court after the British government tries to use the US "Koreagate" Fraser Committee subpoena as evidence. Rev. Moon's counsel — Mr Fox-Andrews QC — gets the judge to reprimand the government for relying on press speculation. The visit lasts over 120 days, the longest True Father ever spent in any country other than Korea, Japan or the US.

Source →
21 May 1978

Blessing of 118 couples in London

118 couples from all over Europe are blessed in London. Tabloid coverage focuses on the 40-day separation condition ("Moon slaps 40-day Sex Ban on newly-weds") and the familiar charges of brainwashing.

Source →
1978

The Daily Mail libel case begins

The Daily Mail runs a series of articles headlined "The church that breaks up families". On behalf of the British church, its president Dennis Orme sues the Daily Mail for libel.

Source →
31 March 1981

Jury finds for the Daily Mail · longest libel trial in English history

After coming to court in October 1980, the jury delivers its verdict on 31 March 1981 in favour of the Daily Mail, adding a rider that the tax-free status of the church "should be investigated by the Inland Revenue on the grounds that it is a political organisation". By the time it ends — with the Court of Appeal dismissing in December 1982 and the Lords refusing leave on 10 February 1983 — it has become the longest libel trial in English legal history. Huge costs are awarded against the Church.

Source →
12 July 1981

"Pornography Destroys Love" rally · Trafalgar Square

CARP holds a national rally in Trafalgar Square — the movement's major UK event of the year — drawing members and supporters from Aberdeen to Plymouth.

Source →
1984 – February 1988

Attorney General's case to remove charity status — dropped

Under pressure from MPs after the libel defeat, the Attorney General launches a legal action to remove the HSA-UWC and SMM Foundation trusts from the Register of Charities. The church spends four years preparing affidavits. In February 1988 the Attorney General announces in the House of Commons that, after "exhaustive investigation", he is dropping the action — he has no evidence to counter the "strong presumption" of the UC's charitable status. Costs are awarded against the Government.

Source →
Era 5

V. Re-entry and rebrand

1989 – 1998

Home Secretary · Tim Read · FFWPU

Rev. Moon is barred from Britain by the Home Secretary in 1989. An immigration adjudicator reverses the ban in 1991. Five years later the New Connaught Rooms in London hosts the UK inauguration of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

1989

Home Secretary refuses Rev. Moon entry

The Home Secretary refuses Rev. Moon entry clearance "because of your character and conduct". The fallout from the 1981 libel verdict still hangs over the movement.

Source →
August 1991

Immigration adjudicator overturns the entry ban

After an appeal, the Adjudicator allows it and orders an entry clearance to be granted. The government does not appeal. Letters of consent are issued in late 1991 and summer 1992.

Source →
10 April · 25 August 1992

British members join the 1,267 and 30,000 Couple Blessings

British members participate in the 1,267 Couple Blessing for Previously Married Couples on 10 April — the first Blessing to include participants of other faiths — and in the 30,000 Couple Blessing on 25 August.

Source →
January 1996

Tim Miller appointed National Leader

Tim Miller is appointed as National Leader of the Unification Movement in the UK.

Source →
October 1996

Tim Read appointed · 11-year tenure

Nine months later Tim Read is appointed as National Leader and serves for the next eleven years — the longest-serving UK National Leader in the movement's history.

Source →
19 October 1996

FFWPU inaugurated in the UK · New Connaught Rooms

True Mother had been due to speak in London on 19 October but is called back to Korea one week before; Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak comes in her place and delivers her speech to a packed audience of over 900 in the New Connaught Rooms in Central London. The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) is established in the UK.

Source →
1997

WFWP-UK registered

The Women's Federation for World Peace UK — first led by Barbara Zaccarelli from 1992 — is registered as a limited company. Linda Brann is appointed president in 1996, followed by Martina Coombs until 2006.

Source →
Era 6

VI. Mother's tours and interfaith work

1999 – 2010

True Mother · ICF · IRFWP · Global Peace Festival

True Mother's world speaking tours pass through London year on year. Interfaith and academic conferences continue at the Russell Hotel, the Lancaster Gate HQ, and the New Connaught Rooms. In 2005 the British movement marks its 40th anniversary.

16 May 1999

True Mother's 82-city World Speaking Tour reaches London

True Mother speaks at the New Connaught Rooms in London to an audience of 1,300 — including 440 guests and VIPs — as part of her 82-city world tour. A meeting of all European leaders is held under the guidance of Pres. Kwang-kee Sa, European continental director.

Source →
2000

True Mother's third World Speaking Tour

True Mother returns to the UK as part of her next world speaking tour, with conferences continuing at the Russell Hotel in London and meetings on "Marriage and the Family" at venues including Woolwich Town Hall.

Source →
2005

True Parents' World Tour · 40th anniversary of the European movement

True Parents' world tour marks the 40th anniversary of the European Movement, dated from Young Oon Kim's 1965 arrival in the UK. By this point the British movement has shifted focus toward interfaith and intercultural reconciliation, service projects, and family-values work.

Source →
2006

Three Generations Tour · True Mother and True Children

True Mother and the True Children tour Europe, including the UK, on the Three Generations Tour.

Source →
2007 – 2008

Global Peace Festival

The Global Peace Festival comes to the UK, expanding the movement's reach through the new Global Peace Foundation and the Family Church.

Source →
Era 7

VII. Ascension and after

2011 – 2014

European Speaking Tour · Seong Hwa

True Father returns to London for what will be his final European tour in 2011. On 3 September 2012 at 1.54 a.m. he ascends. The UK movement enters the era of True Mother and the Tribal Messiahs.

2011

True Parents' European Speaking Tour

True Parents return for a European Speaking Tour. After arriving at the Hilton on the Thames, the programme includes a reception at the Houses of Parliament with speeches by Members of Parliament.

Source →
3 September 2012 · 01:54

True Father's Ascension

At 1.54 a.m. Korea time on 3 September 2012, True Father ascends. 250,000 people pay respect at the altar in the Peace Centre and at altars around the world — including one at the Lancaster Gate HQ. The British altar is set up in the same room where True Father had given his first public UK speech in 1972.

Source →
15 September 2012

True Father's Seong Hwa

True Father's Seong Hwa ceremony is held at 1.30 p.m. with 50,000 mourners present in Korea.

Source →
30 September 2012

UK Memorial Service · Friends Meeting House, London

A Memorial Service for True Father is held in the Friends Meeting House in London, organised by UPF and Ambassadors for Peace, with VIPs, interfaith religious leaders, Ambassadors for Peace and members in attendance.

Source →
March 2013

UK Leaders meeting at Cleeve House

The post-Ascension era for the UK movement opens with a national UK Leaders' meeting at Cleeve House.

Source →

Sources

Every event on this page is drawn from the movement's own published history, History of the Unification Movement in the United Kingdom 1965–2014, published by HSA-UWC and archived in eleven PDF parts at tparents.org. Dennis Orme's biographical details and the legal framing of the Daily Mail libel case cross-checked against the Wikipedia article on Dennis Orme.

← Providential History (global view)Compare with another country →