About
The History of FFWPU in the United Kingdom
Introduction
FFWPU-UK’s history is rooted in the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC), founded in Seoul by Rev. Sun Myung Moon in 1954. The more familiar names “Unification Church” or “Unification Movement” echo the teaching that restoration encompasses both spiritual and physical aspects of life, as well as the unity of people of all backgrounds.
In 1974, Rev. Moon established a Holy Ground on a farm near Swindon that had been donated to the movement. They planted oak saplings in the shape of a cross, symbolising England’s Christian foundation. The documentary below tells the extraordinary story of Henry & Avril Masters, longstanding members who donated the estate.
Timeline
Early History of the Movement in the UK
1954 – David (Sang-Chul) Kim arrived in the UK as the first Unification Movement missionary. He studied in Swansea (University of Wales) and shared the movement’s teachings with spiritual groups.
1965 – Rev. Sun Myung Moon visited the UK for the first time. During his visit, he met with the movement’s first six UK members and Sir Anthony Brooke, a prominent British spiritualist. He also established a Holy Ground in Kensington Gardens, London, as a place dedicated to prayer.
Outreach
1970 – A farmhouse north of Reading was rented and became the movement’s UK headquarters. During this period, British members also began taking part in international missionary work, including in Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Malta and Cyprus.
1973 – Thirty British members joined a group of 120 European members who travelled to the United States to support the movement’s activities there. Some later took on leadership or missionary roles in countries including Zambia, Tanzania, Trinidad and Australia.
1974 – Rev. and Mrs Moon visited the United Kingdom, during which a Holy Ground was established on a farm outside Swindon that had recently been donated to the movement. They planted oak saplings in the shape of a cross, representing Britain’s Christian heritage.
Later that year, Rev. and Mrs Moon returned to London for the third International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences (ICUS), held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel near Kensington Gardens.
1975 – Numbers 43 and 44 Lancaster Gate in London were purchased from the Norwegian Government and became the movement’s new UK headquarters. Rev. and Mrs Moon visited the property later that year.
The 1970s also marked a period of significant international expansion for the Unification Movement. Rev. Moon delivered several major public speeches in the United States, including at Madison Square Garden in 1974, Yankee Stadium in 1976, and the Washington Monument in 1976.
Leadership and Public Engagement
1982 – Rev. Moon was convicted in the United States of offences relating to federal income tax and conspiracy and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The case became a subject of debate among some religious leaders and commentators, who raised concerns about its implications for religious freedom.
1983 – Masatoshi Abe became National Director of the movement in the United Kingdom. During his ten-year tenure, UK activities became more organised, and members became increasingly involved in a range of movement initiatives.
1991 – Following an immigration appeal, Rev. Moon was informed that he could enter the United Kingdom.
1992 – Mrs Hak Ja Han Moon visited Britain as part of an eight-city European speaking tour in her role as President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP). During her visit, she stayed at Livingstone House in Kent, which the movement had purchased in 1978 and developed as an education and conference centre.
1993 – Mrs Moon returned to Britain during a 40-nation speaking tour. At the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, she delivered a speech entitled True Parents and the Completed Testament Age to an audience of more than 1,200 people. The event presented Rev. and Mrs Moon’s understanding of their religious mission to a wider British audience. Dr Ursula King, an academic and theologian known for her work in religion and interfaith studies, introduced her.
1995 – Then Home Secretary Michael Howard refused Rev. Moon entry to the United Kingdom on the grounds that his presence would not be conducive to the public good. The decision was followed by a lengthy period of legal and administrative proceedings concerning his entry to the country.
Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
1996 – The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) was inaugurated internationally. In Britain, activities increasingly developed under the FFWPU name, with initiatives focused on family life, youth, service, interfaith dialogue, and intercultural reconciliation.
1999 – Mrs Moon visited Britain as part of an 82-city, six-continent speaking tour, addressing an audience at the New Connaught Rooms in London.
2000 – Mrs Moon returned to the United Kingdom as part of another international speaking tour, with events taking place in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
2003 – Rev. Moon initiated what became known as the “Take Down the Cross” campaign in the United States. The initiative reflected his teaching that Christianity should place greater emphasis on Jesus’ life, teachings and resurrection rather than the suffering represented by the cross. The American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), an interfaith organisation founded by clergy associated with Rev. Moon’s peace initiatives, supported the campaign.
2005 – The UK Government revoked the exclusion preventing Rev. Moon from entering the country. He subsequently returned to Britain in November as part of an international speaking tour and inaugurated the UK chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).
2009 – Rev. Moon’s autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen, was published.
2011 – Rev. Moon visited the United Kingdom accompanied by members of his family from 9–12 May. The visit formed part of the European stage of an international speaking tour covering eight countries.
Recent History
2012 – Rev. Sun Myung Moon passed away on 3 September 2012 in South Korea, aged 92. Within the Unification tradition, members believe that his spiritual mission and work for God’s providence continue after his passing.
2016 – Sun Jin Moon, then International President of FFWPU, attended the inauguration of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) at the Houses of Parliament in London.
2020 – Dr Michael and Fumiko Balcomb became National Directors of FFWPU in the United Kingdom.
2020 – Dr Hak Ja Han Moon’s memoir, Mother of Peace, was published.