United Kingdom
Missionary work in United Kingdom shares its beginnings with the providence of the founding of the Holy Spirit Association of Korea. It began in August 1954, with the arrival of Sang-chul (David) Kim for university studies in Wales. During his visit to Britain in 1965, Reverend Moon created a Holy Ground and prayed for the missionary work in Britain.
Following his visit, missionary work in Britain was carried out by American Sandy Pinkerton, June Darby who had joined the church in Rome and Marion Dougherty.
Six people joined the church in 1967 alone, and thus members could celebrate the first God's Day, 1968. The church continued to grow and received approval from the government to register as a legal organization.
Reverend Moon visited Britain for the second time in 1969. At that time, there was a Blessing for forty-three European couples. Since that time, missionary work has continued its development. The monthly Unified Family was published for the purpose of conveying church news to members and guiding them in their faith.
On the foundation of steady development, in 1972 the British church held a public meeting at which Reverend Moon spoke to the people of Britain. In his speech, Reverend Moon warned of the unethical and immoral trends spreading across Britain. After this rally in London, Reverend Moon initiated a witnessing drive, establishing a mobile team that traveled in a large truck named Samson. Membership gradually increased and missionary activities revitalized. At the same time, a European "revival" team composed of members from twenty-one nations was launched. The team held Declaration of Divine Principle rallies at major cities throughout Britain and witnessed from local centers. Accordingly, in 1976, in order to broaden the missionary base and more easily connect with the public, witnessing centers were established at Cardiff and Birmingham trade centers. In 1978, more than five years after his visit in 1972, Reverend Moon again visited Britain and toured many cities. At this time, the Go World Brass Band was formed, enlivening the work of the revival witnessing team. An International One World Crusade was initiated in 1978. Mustering their efforts, members accelerated missionary work.
The declaration of the new truth in thirty major cities was an opportunity to instill young Britons with vision and hope. With the movement gaining popularity among the young, some local government officials asked the church to give lectures on the restoration of values. Such a response clearly showed the valuable achievements of missionary work in the United Kingdom. However, it was not enough to overcome the negative viewpoint of the government and media.
The church brought a complaint against the Daily Mail for libel, but in vain. Emerging from this period of despair, however, the church leapt forward in its approach to missionary work. An annual forty-day witnessing period was begun in 1984. By the end of this period, 733 people had submitted membership applications. In this way, with the end of the forty-day witnessing period, the entire membership had reached 14,000.
Finally, in 1988, the British government again acknowledged the Unification Church as a genuine religious organization having challenged its bona fide status). The British members, having undergone several years of hardship, realized the fact that darkness cannot win over light and falsehood cannot shade the truth. With the church being acknowledged by the government as a bona fide organization, members in Britain were again encouraged. They demonstrated their potential to the world by holding such international events as a conference of the Artists Association International, the 6th World CARP Convention and the 4th PWPA International Congress.Church businesses including a print works, a construction company and travel agencies are funding the work of the church.
*** European Church members on a crusade in Britain *** British Church members outside the Church Headquarters in London ( early 1980s )
