1846

The Evangelical Alliance is founded

The Evangelical Alliance is founded at a meeting of 800 evangelical leaders in London on 19 August 1846.

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1855

Religious liberty across Europe

During the mid-19th century, religious freedom for all in Europe was high on the Evangelical Alliance's agenda and led to some of the Evangelical Alliance's first engagements with government advocacy.

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1857

Invitation from the King of Prussia

In 1857 all 900 delegates at the Evangelical Alliance’s third International Conference in Berlin were invited to take a trip to Potsdam at the King of Prussia’s expense during which time they addressed issues of religious persecution in Europe.

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1861

Universal Week of Prayer launched

The Evangelical Alliance launches the first-ever Universal Week of Prayer.

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1879

Freedom for Austrian Christians

A personal visit of Evangelical Alliance delegates to the Austrian Emperor successfully brings relief from persecution to Christians in Bohemia who have been prevented from meeting for worship or Bible studies.

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1914 - 1918

Prayer gatherings during World War I

The Evangelical Alliance established itself as key national prayer leader and organised many large prayer gatherings during World War I.

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1918-1939

The Evangelical Alliance during the interwar years

The rise in communism across Europe after World War 1 was seen as a great threat by evangelicals during the interwar years, with the Evangelical Alliance taking a lead in supporting Christians around the continent.

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1924

Wembley presentation

Alliance gives large evangelistic presentations at Wembley Conference Centre, London, as part of the British Empire Exhibition

1939 - 1945

National Day of Prayer and support for refugees

The Evangelical Alliance hosts the National Day of Prayer, supported by King George VI, and does significant work among refugees.

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1951

World Evangelical Alliance launched

The Evangelical Alliance co-founds the World Evangelical Fellowship, now known as the World Evangelical Alliance. The Evangelical Alliance focuses on evangelicalism across the UK.

1954

Billy Graham and the Harringay crusades

38,000 people come to faith at the Harringay Crusade with Billy Graham, sponsored and led by the Evangelical Alliance.

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1960s

Cultural changes present challenge to evangelical community

The cultural changes of post-war Britain challenged Christian culture and with it the Evangelical Alliance.

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1966

Public dispute between leaders dents evangelical confidence

A public dispute between evangelical leaders over ecumenical unity causes division within the community.

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1968

The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund (TEARFund) is established

TEARFund is formally established after years of giving from Christians around the UK to the Evangelical Alliance Relief fund (EAR), launched in 1960 as a response to famine and war .

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1983

Clive Calver appointed general secretary

Clive Calver is appointed general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, ushering in a season of growth and change.

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1984

African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance founded

In April 1984, the West Indian Evangelical Alliance formed. Later known as African and Caribbean Evangelical Alliance (ACEA), this was an independent charity that worked under a partnership agreement with the Evangelical Alliance to represent black majority churches in the UK, closing in 2009 after 25 years.

1987 - 1992

National offices of the Evangelical Alliance launched

Between 1987 and 1992 the Evangelical Alliance committed to enhancing it's place across all the nations of the United Kingdom, opening offices in Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff.

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1993

The Evangelical Alliance's theological advisory group is established

An advisory group to help the Evangelical Alliance reflect on issues from a theological point of view was established in 1993.

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1997

Rev Joel Edwards is appointed general director of the Evangelical Alliance.

Rev Joel Edwards is appointed general director of the Evangelical Alliance, the first black man to hold the position.

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1999

The Gweini coalition is launched in Wales

Gweini was established in October 1999 by the Evangelical Alliance, Care and Cornerstone Church Swansea as a representative body of the Christian voluntary sector in Wales.

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2009

Steve Clifford appointed general director

Steve Clifford was appointed as general director in April 2009, coming from a background in church and para-church leadership, both nationally and globally.

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2010

The South Asian Forum is launched

The South Asian Forum is launched to help Christians reach the Asian community in the UK with the good news of Jesus.

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2011

21st Century Evangelicals report released

The most extensive research ever conducted into evangelical thinking is launched asking the questions, "What do evangelicals actually believe and how does that workitself out in their everyday lives?”

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2011

Biblefresh is launched

The Biblefresh joint initiative by the Evangelical Alliance and Bible Society to promote a year of celebrating the Bible.

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2012

GATHER Network established

The GATHER Network, a unity movement around the UK, was established to draw together churches and Christian communities together in mission.

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2012

Online community threads begins ministry to reach young adults

threads, an initiative of the Evangelical Alliance, is launched to help young adults in their 20s and 30s engage with church and faith issues.

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2013

One People Commission is founded

The One People Commission is set up as a model of encouraging unity while celebrating the ethnic diversity of the UK church.

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2014

Home for Good is launched

Adoption and fostering charity Home for Good is launched as a result of an Evangelical Alliance campaign.

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2014

What kind of nation?

The Evangelical Alliance in Scotland produced What kind of nation? to provoke Christians in Scotland to think and discuss what kind of nation we should be working for ahead of the independence referendum.

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2015

What kind of church?

After the success of What kind of nation? the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland were then challenged to write a similar document, now focusing on what kind of church we need.

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2016

100: Our Story of Healing, Honour and Hope

The Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland published 100: Our story of healing, honour and hope to mark 100 years since the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme.

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2016

Evangelical Alliance turns 170

The Evangelical Alliance celebrated 170 years of working to unite the church in the UK in sharing Jesus and speaking up for Him in society.

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2016

Great Commission resources hub goes live

The Evangelical Alliance launch a website, greatcommission.co.uk, to serve as an online hub for evangelistic resources.

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2016

Speak Up resource is launched

A joint resource from the Evangelical Alliance and the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, Speak Up, was designed to equip and inspire Christians with confidence and knowledge of their legal freedom to share Jesus.

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2017

What kind of society? is published

What kind of society? is launched to inspire Christians to think about how the foundational values of love, truth, freedom and justice could shape 21st century society in the UK.

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2017

Movement Day inspires joint mission nation-wide

A thousand delegates gather in London for the first-ever Movement Day UK.

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2018

Above and Beyond takes place in London

The inaugural Above and Beyond conference was held, helping Christians to run their churches and charities excellently particularly around good governance.

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2019

Gavin Calver appointed general director

After four years as director of mission, Gavin Calver was appointed CEO of the Evangelical Alliance in October 2019.

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2020

The Coronavirus pandemic

A challenging time for the world during the Coronavirus Pandemic saw more eyes turning to the church. The Evangelical Alliance adapted to support communities and offered the everlasting hope of Jesus.

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2021

Evangelical Alliance turns 175

The Evangelical Alliance celebrated 175 years serving and uniting the church in the United Kingdom.

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2022

Living for Jesus at work suite of resources launched

These resources seek to inspire and equip Christians to faithfully live for Jesus in their workplaces.

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2022

Cross Section podcast

A podcast hosting conversations at the intersection of faith, news and culture

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2022

Talking Jesus Report

Landmark research into the UK's perception of Jesus, Christians and evangelism

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2023

Celebrated 10 years of the One People Commission

We gathered to praise God for the 10 year anniversary of the One People Commission, set up to encourage unity while celebrating the ethnic diversity of the church.