Find an Adventist church near you
Use your location to see Seventh-day Adventist congregations in your area. Remember: the main service is on Saturday morning.
Adventism in the UK
The Seventh-day Adventist Church grew out of the nineteenth-century Advent movement in America and reached Britain in the 1870s. Today the British Union Conference oversees missions and conferences covering England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Membership grew strongly from the 1950s as Adventist families from the Caribbean settled in Britain, and more recently through African and Eastern European members. The church runs Newbold College in Berkshire, its higher education institution for Europe, together with schools, a publishing house and an active health ministry.
What Adventists believe
- The Sabbath. Adventists keep the seventh day, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, as a day of rest and worship, following the fourth commandment.
- The Advent hope. The name reflects a strong emphasis on the visible return of Christ.
- Scripture. Adventists are Protestant and evangelical in their approach to the Bible, with 28 fundamental beliefs summarising their teaching.
- Whole-person health. A long-standing health message encourages rest, exercise and a healthy diet; many Adventists are vegetarian, and the church pioneered health education.
- Baptism by immersion. Believers are baptised on profession of faith, as in Baptist churches.
How a Sabbath morning works
Visiting an Adventist church means setting aside a good part of Saturday, and the morning falls into two halves:
- Sabbath School, usually from about 9:30am. Small-group Bible study for all ages using a shared study guide, so the whole worldwide church works through the same passage each week.
- Divine Service, usually around 11am. The main worship service: hymns and choir items, prayer, Scripture and a substantial sermon. Music ranges from traditional hymnody to gospel, especially in urban churches.
- Fellowship lunch. Many congregations share a meal after the service, often vegetarian and always generous. Visitors are routinely invited, and afternoons may include youth programmes or Bible study.
Visiting tips
- Dress tends towards smart, particularly in Caribbean-heritage congregations, but visitors are welcome as they are.
- Arriving for the 11am service rather than Sabbath School is perfectly acceptable for a first visit.
- Expect a personal welcome; many churches greet visitors during the service and will invite you to lunch.
- No collection pressure applies to guests; tithes and offerings are a member practice.
Frequently asked questions
Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?
Yes. Adventists hold mainstream Christian beliefs about the Trinity, the cross and the resurrection, and belong to the Protestant family. Their distinctive practices are the Saturday Sabbath and the health message.
Do Adventist churches hold anything on Sunday?
Occasionally community events or concerts, but worship belongs to Saturday. If you need Saturday options more broadly, see churches open on Saturday.
How do I find a congregation?
Use the finder above or browse Adventist listings and your county. London alone has dozens of congregations, and most sizeable towns in the Midlands and the North have at least one.