Kingsway International Christian Centre

Last updated

KICC
Kingsway International Christian Centre
Prayer-city-front-view-1536x623.jpg
KICC's current church in Kent,
named "Prayer City"
Kingsway International Christian Centre
LocationMaidstone Rd, Chatham ME5 9QG, Kent, England
Country United Kingdom
Denomination Pentecostal
Website www.kicc.org.uk
History
Founded1992
Founder(s)Matthew Ashimolowo
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Matthew Ashimolowo

Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) is based in Kent, England and was established in 1992 by Matthew Ashimolowo with 200 adults and 100 children. It currently has up to 12,000 people in attendance at the main church every Sunday. [1] The church is pastored by Matthew Ashimolowo.

Contents

Church history

In 1992, Matthew Ashimolowo started Kingsway International Christian Centre at Holloway Boys' School in North London. One year later, they bought a three storey property which could fit around 1,000 people. In this period, KICC gained a lot of popularity. In 1995, about 3,000 people were members of the church there were now 3 services a day. One year later, KICC started other branches in the South West and they also started broadcasting on GOD TV and other television network. In 1997, four sunday services were happening at Darnley Road and other services were being held at the Hackney Empire, Hackney Central Hall and York Hall all of them being in Hackney. Their membership numbers were reaching the 4,000s. So they bought 8 acres of land at Waterden Road in Hackney Wick for 2.7 million pounds. In twelve weeks they made a 4,000 seater hall, It was opened in August of 1998. For 9 years they owned Waterden Road, which they held their landmark conference IGOC (International Gathering of Champions). They also held Winning Women, the women's conference in the church and Watchnight which is a event which marks the start of a new year.

Relocation history

The church, whose majority membership is under 50 years of age, is predominantly of West African origin but claims that worshippers come from 46 nations. [2] It was located for nine years on a 9.5-acre (38,000 m2) site in Hackney, London, close to the site of the 2012 Olympics Village.

KICC had to vacate the site by November 2006 in order to make way for proposed developments for the 2012 London Olympics [3] but did so only in late 2007. The last event held at Waterden Road was the International Gathering of Champions 2007, with many international guest speakers like Bill Winston. The church relocated to Hoe Street, Walthamstow, awaiting planning consent and the development of a large new site in Rainham, near the A13. However, the government was reluctant to give the required development planning consent. [4] Eventually the church purchased and moved into its present larger site, Prayer City [5] in Chatham, Kent, while retaining use of the Walthamstow site. In subsequent press releases, KICC announced plans and programmes scheduled for Prayer City from 2013 onwards.[ citation needed ]

Charity Commission enquiries

Irregularities in the operation of the charity behind Kingsway International Christian Centre (The King's Ministries Trust) has led to it being investigated by the Charity Commission on two occasions.

The first investigation started in 2002 and reported in October 2005. This report concluded that there had been serious misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity. At an early stage in the investigation, it was considered that the charity's assets were at risk, and control was removed from the existing trustees and placed in the hands of an independent external company (the accountancy and management consultancy practice KPMG), who regularised the charity's affairs. The Charity Commission reported that senior pastor Matthew Ashimolowo acted as both a trustee and a paid employee of the charity, in contravention of charity law. He had been responsible for approving payments and benefits to himself and his wife, Yemisi, totalling more than £384,000. Benefits received included free accommodation for himself and family, an £80,000 car, purchase of a timeshare in Florida for £13,000 using a charity credit card, and over half a million pounds paid out to Ashimolowo's private companies, which were operated from church property and had unclear business relationships with the charity. £120,000 was spent celebrating Ashimolowo's birthday. He repaid £200,000 to the charity.

A second statutory investigation into misapplication of funds was reported to have started in February 2011. The charity had received £10m from the London Development Agency for the compulsory purchase of its property in Hackney wanted for the 2012 Olympics. Subsequently, the Commission enquired into £5m given for investment to a former trustee, the former professional footballer Richard Rufus in 2009/10 and 2010/11. Although the trust reported returns from the investment of £1,336,720 in its accounts, the commission's appointed accountant says that there is doubt about whether the charity would get the original £5m back. The Trust has been told it must obtain written permission from the Charity Commission before making any more investments. [6]

The cost of the Charity Commission's running of the first investigation was questioned in the House of Lords by Lord Swinfen during a review of charity law. The three-year-long investigation had cost £1.2 million, chargeable to the charity. [7]

Crystal Palace

KICC bought a site in Crystal Palace that was previously used as a bingo hall, but planning permission to use it as a church has not been granted. They held a business seminar there on 25 August 2012. The intention is to use it for their South West branch based in Wimbledon, London. [8] [9] [10]

KICC originally applied for planning permission to change the planning use class of the building from D2 to D1, in order to allow use for religious ceremonies, on 13 August 2009. [11] This application was refused, on two grounds - that the development would result in the loss of an important leisure venue "harmful to the social, cultural and economic characteristics of the area" and that the wide catchment area for the congregation would attract a large number of cars, resulting in "a significant adverse impact on the surrounding area in terms of parking demand and pedestrian safety". [12] Despite the planning refusal and opposition from a group of local residents campaigning for the building to be converted into a cinema, [13] KICC performed renovation work inside the building to convert its use from a bingo hall. [14] The building subsequently opened in August 2012.

In 2013, over 70 complaints were received by Bromley Council relating to a New Year's Eve event to be held at the venue called "Watchnight". The council issued KICC a notice under section 330 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to determine the format of the event, and officials visited the event on the night. Bromley's head of licensing confirmed that a public entertainments licence was not required due to the religious content of the event. The council determined that the building had also been used for a religious event falling within use class D1 in February 2013. The chief planner of Bromley was of the view that the irregular nature of the religious events did not constitute a material change of use and suggested at a meeting of planning sub-committee number 1 on 6 February 2014 that Bromley continue monitoring the use of the site and request the owners to submit a new planning application for the intended use. [15] A councillor for Crystal Palace complained that KICC "seem to be able to have their cake and eat it" and stated that the council "must demonstrate to owners we will enforce planning law if they choose to breach it. We should reject these recommendations and take enforcement action". [16] The committee subsequently overturned the planner's recommendation by a vote of 5 to 3, instead giving KICC 30 days to submit a new planning application for mixed D2/D1 use or face enforcement action under planning regulations. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beckenham</span> Town in Greater London, England

Beckenham is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. Prior to 1965, it was part of Kent. It is situated north of Elmers End and Eden Park, east of Penge, south of Lower Sydenham and Bellingham, and west of Bromley and Shortlands, and 8.4 miles (13.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross. Its population at the 2011 Census was 46,844.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catford</span> District in south east London, England

Catford is a district in south east London, England, and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Lewisham. It is southwest of Lewisham itself, mostly in the Rushey Green and Catford South wards. The population of Catford, including Bellingham, was 44,905 in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Hackney</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Hackney is a London borough in Inner London, England. The historical and administrative heart of Hackney is Mare Street, which lies 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Charing Cross. The borough is named after Hackney, its principal district. Southern and eastern parts of the borough are popularly regarded as being part of east London that spans some of the traditional East End of London with the northwest belonging to north London. Its population is estimated to be 281,120.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace, London</span> Residential area in London, England

Crystal Palace is an area in South London, named after the Crystal Palace Exhibition building which stood in the area from 1854, until it was destroyed by a fire in 1936. About 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Charing Cross, it includes one of the highest points in London, at 367 feet (112 m), offering views over the capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpington</span> Town in Greater London, England

Orpington is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Norwood</span> Suburb of London

West Norwood is a largely residential area of south London within the London Borough of Lambeth, located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) south south-east of Charing Cross. The centre of West Norwood sits in a bowl surrounded by hillsides on its east, west and south sides. From many parts of the area, distant views can be seen, of places such as the City of London, Canary Wharf and Crystal Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley-by-Bow</span> Human settlement in England

Bromley, commonly known as Bromley-by-Bow, is a district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London, located on the western banks of the River Lea, in the Lower Lea Valley in East London. It is an inner-city suburb located 4.7 miles east of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley</span> Town of Greater London

Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 9+1⁄2 miles southeast of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 88,000 as of 2023.

Soul Survivor is a Christian movement, based in Watford, Hertfordshire, part of the charismatic evangelical tradition. From 1993 until 2019, it ran Christian summer festivals aimed at young people, as well as other events throughout the year. It is also the name of a church, centred on weekly worship services at its warehouses in Watford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bow, London</span> Area of east London, England

Bow is a district in East London, England and is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is an inner-city suburb located 4.6 miles (7.4 km) east of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackney Wick</span> Human settlement in England

Hackney Wick is a neighbourhood in North East London, England. The area forms the south-eastern part of the district of Hackney, and also of the wider London Borough of Hackney. Adjacent areas of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, namely Fish Island, are sometimes also described as being part of Hackney Wick. The area lies 4.2 miles (6.8 km) northeast of Charing Cross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace Park</span> Victorian pleasure ground in Crystal Palace, Bromley, London

Crystal Palace Park is a large park in south-east London, Grade II* listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. It was laid out in the 1850s as a pleasure ground, centred around the re-location of The Crystal Palace -- the largest glass building of the time -- from central London to this area on the border of Kent and Surrey; the suburb that grew around the park is known by the same name.

Matthew Ashimolowo is a Nigerian clergyman, the senior pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in London.

The SE postcode area covers a broad area of the south-east of the London, England post town from the Albert Embankment to West Heath and the nearest edges of Sidcup and Selhurst. It loosely corresponds to the boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham and Greenwich plus indicated parts of the boroughs of Croydon (north), Lambeth (east), Bexley (west) and Bromley (northwest).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watchnight service</span> Late-night Christian church service

A watchnight service is a late-night Christian church service. In many different Christian traditions, such as those of Moravians, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Baptists, Adventists and Reformed Christians, watchnight services are held late on New Year's Eve, which is the seventh day of Christmastide. This provides the opportunity for Christians to review the year that has passed and make confession, and then prepare for the year ahead by praying and resolving. The services often include singing, praying, exhorting, preaching, and Holy Communion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islamic Centre of England</span> Religious and cultural building in Maida Vale, London

The Islamic Centre of England Ltd (ICEL) is a religious and cultural institution linked to the Iranian government at 140 Maida Vale, London, whose mission is "to provide services to members of the Muslim community, in particular, and the wider community at large", focusing on religious guidance and cultural issues. It was founded in December 1995 and opened officially in November 1998. The premises are a former cinema that is a listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mare Street</span> Street in Hackney, London

Mare Street is a street in the London Borough of Hackney. It has existed since the 15th century, when it was one of the first roads at the centre of the parish. It was then known as Merestret. The word mere was either the Old English mǣre meaning a boundary — referring to the boundary with the parish of Stepney — or mere, a large pond which was fed by Hackney Brook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio Cinema, Dalston</span> Art Deco cinema in Dalston, London, England

The Rio Cinema is a Grade II listed independent Art Deco cinema in Dalston, east London. It is a popular independent cinema located on Kingsland High Street, with a history stretching back over 100 years. The Rio added a second screen in the unused basement space in December 2017.

Helen Yawson is a contemporary gospel singer, songwriter and pastor based in Ghana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley Little Theatre</span> Community theatre

Bromley Little Theatre is a community theatre in Bromley in the London Borough of Bromley, England and is a member of the Little Theatre Guild of Great Britain. Its president is the actor Michael York.

References

  1. ↑ "Church web site". Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2007.
  2. ↑ "Ship of Fools: The Mystery Worshipper". www.ship-of-fools.com. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  3. ↑ Kevin Donovan (20 June 2006). "Kingsway International Christian Centre Steps Back for 2012 Olympics Venue". Christian Today. Retrieved 26 August 2006.
  4. ↑ "'Mega church' plans turned down". BBC News. 15 February 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2009.
  5. ↑ "Prayer City" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Christian charity told to gain Charity Commission approval before making investments". Third Sector. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Lords Hansard text for 8 Nov 2005". UK Parliament. 8 November 2005. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  8. ↑ "crystalpalacelocal.co.uk KICC SET TO OPEN IN FORMER CINEMA". Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Jaws not Jesus: Cinema campaigners continue fight against church". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. ↑ KICC SOUTH WEST MOVING TO CRYSTAL PALACE LONDON
  11. ↑ "09/02202/FULL1 Change of use from bingo hall (Class D2) to church/ community use (Class D1) together with ancillary offices, cafe and bookshop 25 Church Road London SE19 2TE". London Borough of Bromley planning website. London Borough of Bromley. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "DC/09/02202/FULL1 - Notification of refusal of planning permission" (PDF). London Borough of Bromley. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2014.[ permanent dead link ]
  13. ↑ "Cinema protest at disused site". Croydon Advertiser. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Church's silence on bingo club's future". Croydon Advertiser. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "DRR14/016, Kingsway International Christian Centre, 25 CHURCH ROAD, ANERLEY, SE19" (PDF). London Borough of Bromley Website. London Borough of Bromley. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  16. 1 2 Green, Jerry (21 March 2014). "NEW BID TO USE FORMER CINEMA FOR CHURCH SERVICES 'Dual purpose' application expected" . Retrieved 9 May 2014.

51°34′33″N0°00′52″W / 51.57580°N 0.01447°W / 51.57580; -0.01447

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.