Our Story

Origins

London has been described as a city where people often feel deeply alone and deeply stressed. For such a city, the dream was for a new church to be started with a simple message: rest is possible in Jesus, and community is possible in the Church.

In 2015 Tim and Lindsey Chaddick moved from California, to start Reality Church London. The vision was clear: to see a new Church planted that would gather together a community of people passionate about following Jesus, making him known and seeking renewal in London.

Launched in 2016

Birthed in prayer and with a committed core team, Reality Church London began meeting in the autumn of 2016. First gathering at Seven Dials Club in Covent Garden, and then God brought the church east to London School of Economics. All the while the church’s presence was growing throughout London, with Community Groups forming across the city.

New Leadership

After four years of faithful ministry, the Chaddick’s responded to God’s call to return to California in September 2020. At the same time, Bijan and Michelle Mirtolooi, then serving at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, accepted the call to serve Reality as lead pastor, and moved to London with their daughter Esmé in January 2021.

RCL Today

Today Reality Church London gathers together for worship every Sunday at Central Foundation Boys’ School in east London. The church also gathers during the week throughout the city in Community Groups, building friendships, seeking God, and pursuing mercy and justice.

We are a community following Jesus, making him known and seeking renewal in London. Our story is still being written and we’d love to have you join us.

Why the name ‘Reality’?

What if ultimate reality was actually good news?

The startling thing about the Bible is that when its authors pull back the curtain on what reality really is, they don’t point to principles or platitudes; they point to a person. Colossians 2:17 tells us, ‘Reality is found in Jesus’. At the heart of Christianity lies the belief that Jesus—who he is and what he has done–is to be the very centre, source and foundation of life, that he is the answer to the greatest problem and deepest longing of humanity.

Our church is built on these convictions, because Jesus is reality. We exist to follow him and make him known.

Our Mission & Vision

Reality Church London exists to be a community following Jesus, making him known, seeking the renewal of London. We do this by following Jesus day-by-day, belonging to each other as a church family, bringing our friends to Jesus, and serving London with the whole gospel.

Our beliefs

Reality Church London believes:

In one God

In one God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Creator

God created everything for his glory, and that men and women were created in the image of God.

God’s Word

The Bible is God’s Word, the authority for Christian life and practice. As a collection of writings, the Bible tells a unified story of which Jesus is the saviour and hero.

Salvation

The good news that salvation is possible in and through Jesus Christ. A person can be reconciled to God on the single ground of faith in the death of Jesus. Reconciliation with God is needed since every person has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

In the Church

A diverse community of people who come together because they’ve been loved by Jesus Christ. As a church we seek to share God’s love, grace, and healing in London.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit gifts and guides the church to be Christ’s representatives in our city.

Marked by Love

The church should be marked by love. Christians are called to be examples of the love of God in this world. It is this love that we desire to be known by, and without it we have no right to call ourselves Christians.

Jesus Returning

Jesus will return one day to establish his Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. When he does, everything will be put to rights and all that is sad will come untrue.

Have questions? Send us an email to learn more about what we believe and practice as a church.

Our family of Churches

Reality Church London is part of a family of churches held closely together through friendship, a shared approach to ministry, and a commitment to the Gospel of Jesus bringing renewal in their cities. For more information on the Reality family of churches, click on each below:

Carpinteria

Los Angeles

San Francisco

Ventura

Boston

Honolulu

Santa Barbara

Stockton

Our Leadership Team

Meet the staff team and leaders at Reality Church London.

Meet Our Staff Team:

"Bijan serves as an Elder and is responsible for the overall pastoral vision and teaching of the church. He moved from NYC in January 2021 and now lives in London with wife Michelle and their two children Esmé and Oliver."

Bijan Mirtolooi

Lead Pastor | Elder

"Luke serves as an Elder, alongside overseeing RCL’s finances, operations and governance. He’s currently at seminary and in his spare time you can find him at the theatre or cooking without a recipe."

Luke Hamilton

Executive Director | Elder

"Maryane leads the pastoral care ministry at RCL and is guaranteed to know all of the restaurant hotspots across London."

Maryane Mwaniki

Director of Pastoral Care

"Ed helps direct and oversee the worship at Reality London, he enjoys cycling in his spare time and has to routinely stop from eating as many Percy Pigs as possible."

Edward Smith

Director of Worship

"Brittany facilitates the children's ministry at RCL, when not having fun with children you can find her cycling the busy streets of London, playing all of the sports or in the midst of a DIY project."

Brittany Dwornik

Director of Children's Ministry

"George oversees gatherings at RCL alongside the churches evangelism ministry. Some have compared him to Mary Poppins as his backpack contains everything for any circumstance."

George Style

Gathering Coordinator

Meet Our Church Leaders:

"Isabelle & Toyin lead the churches prayer ministry, all are able to submit a prayer request via the prayer ministry page above. Toyin also serves as an Elder at RCL."

Isabelle & Toyin Odusanwo

Prayer Leads | Elder (Toyin)

"Joel is the chairman of the Board of Trustees for Reality Church London."

Joel MacMillan

Trustee

"Jihan and Dustin lead the ZOOM community group from their home in north London. Jihan also serves as a trustee for the church."

Jihan & Dustin Watkins

Chair of the Board (Jihan)

"Pastor Girma is a leader within our church and sits on the pastoral care team."

Girma Bishaw

Pastoral Care

"Brent & Tara lead the Hampstead community group from their home in north London."

Brent & Tara Malcolm

Hampstead CG Leads

"Chapman leads the coffee team at RCL, if you would like to join him on the coffee team you can do so via the serving page above."

Chapman Maddox

Coffee Lead

"Bijan and Michelle lead the Bethnal Green community group from their home in East London."

Bijan & Michelle Mirtolooi

Bethnal Green CG Leads

"Becs and George lead the Southgate community group in north London."

Becs & George Style

Southgate CG Leads

"Ross leads the sound team at RCL, if you would like to join him on the sound team you can do so via the serving page above."

Ross Abbink

Sound Lead

"Mike and Maryane lead the Marriage Courses at RCL, if you would like to explore joining a marriage course you can find information about the next course on the events page above.

Mike & Maryane Mwaniki

Marriage Course Leads

"Felicia is serving as a Reality Church London intern, specifically within the area of Pastoral Care."

Felicia Olasope

Pastoral Care Intern

"Deo leads the RCL partnership with our Serve the City partner 'Webber Street' - to get involved see the Serve the City page above."

Deo Chen

Webber Street Lead

"Sian leads the set up and tear down team, if you would like to join her on the team you can do so via the serving page above."

Sian Wiggs

Set Up & Tear Down Lead

Get in touch

If you’re new, exploring faith, have a question, a pastoral enquiry or just want to say hello, we would love to hear from you.