Find a Pentecostal church near you
Use your location to see Pentecostal congregations nearby, from town centre Elim churches to international ministries.
The main Pentecostal denominations in the UK
- Elim Pentecostal Church. Founded by George Jeffreys in 1915 in Monaghan and grown across Britain, Elim now has around 500 churches in the UK, ranging from small fellowships to large city congregations.
- Assemblies of God Great Britain. Established in 1924, with hundreds of self-governing churches. See our separate guide to Assemblies of God churches.
- The Apostolic Church. Born out of the Welsh Revival, with historic roots in Penygroes, Carmarthenshire, and congregations across the UK.
- New Testament Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy. Established by Windrush generation Christians from the Caribbean in the 1950s, now major denominations with churches in most large English cities.
- Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). A Nigerian-founded denomination with several hundred UK parishes, one of the most striking church planting stories of recent decades.
Many independent churches are Pentecostal in practice without carrying the label. Our guide to Black majority churches covers the Caribbean and African-led church scene in more detail.
What Pentecostals believe
Pentecostals share mainstream evangelical convictions about the Bible, the cross and personal conversion, and add a distinctive emphasis: the baptism in the Holy Spirit as an experience available to every believer, evidenced in gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and prayer for healing. The movement takes its name from the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. If the vocabulary is new to you, our explainer on speaking in tongues is a good place to start.
What a service is like
- Worship is loud and heartfelt. A full band, extended singing, clapping and raised hands are normal. Come ready to stand for a while.
- Prayer is participatory. The congregation often prays aloud together, and services may include prayer ministry for healing or personal needs.
- Preaching is direct. Sermons are practical and urgent, usually 30 to 45 minutes.
- Services run longer. Ninety minutes to two hours is typical, and nobody watches the clock.
- Welcome is warm. Expect to be greeted, and possibly welcomed publicly as a visitor in some churches.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be expected to speak in tongues?
No. Visitors are never expected to participate beyond their comfort. You may hear others praying in tongues during worship; feel free simply to observe or pray in your own words.
What is the difference between Pentecostal and charismatic?
Pentecostal denominations were founded around the work of the Holy Spirit; charismatic describes the same emphasis appearing inside other traditions, from Anglican to Catholic, and in newer independent churches. Our Pentecostal vs charismatic guide sets out the differences.
How do I find service times?
Use the finder above or browse Pentecostal listings by county. Most churches meet on Sunday between 10 and 11:30am, with midweek prayer meetings and Bible studies during the week.