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Before the outbreak of World War One there was a significant German community in London with around a dozen Protestant churches around the capital.

Some of the churches dated back to the 17th Century but the majority had been established in the middle of the 19th Century onwards.

The war would have an enormous impact on the German congregations in the capital.

The German population shrank from more than 30,000 before the war to 9,000 in 1921.

Pastors of military age either returned to Germany or were interned. Fears surrounding the perceived threat of spies meant many church figures were the subject of suspicion.

The nascent MI5 was keen to keep some churches open so that a closer eye could be kept on remaining German communities in London.

Most of the churches did not survive World War One and did not re-open. Some, such as the German Church in Sydenham, south east London, did make it through.

Location: German Church, Sydenham SE23 2NR
Image: Anti-German propaganda poster, courtesy of IWM

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