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Freedom Centre International (FCI) - formerly known as South London Temple, is a church-based charity registered in the United Kingdom under the Universal Prayer Group Ministry (UPGM).

 

UPGM was founded by Dr Sampson Kwaku Boafo - a barrister and an ordained minister of religion. It was registered in the UK as a church-based charity in 1988.  Prior to its formal registration, the ministry had been operating as a prayer ministry from Dr Boafo’s home since 1965 and was primarily attended by African students studying in the UK.  

 

As the ministry grew, worship services began to be held at a Church of England Parish based in Chalk Farm, North London and was eventually to become known as Edmonton Temple.

 

In 1972, Dr Boafo relocated from the UK back to his home country (Ghana) where he felt the Lord had called him to not only establish churches, but to enter into the political arena as well.

 

He briefly returned to the UK in 1985 to revive Edmonton Temple/UPGM which was still meeting in Chalk Farm, North London at the time.  

 

In 1990, UPGM moved to a former Anglican church based in the Edmonton area of London and experienced tremendous growth during this time - establishing itself as the leading black majority led church in London in the early 1990’s.  

 

As the impact of the UPGM became more and more pronounced, Dr Boafo embarked on an expansion drive throughout the UK and beyond into Kenya and Ghana.

 

UPGM’s network also provided a platform for many international evangelists and ministries to bring the gospel of Christ into the UK.

 

1997 saw continued growth in church membership from out of the South London area - so much so that a branch in the South was started in the Brixton area of London.

 

South London Temple (as it was called) was headed by Dr Shadrach Ofosuware, who was the Associate Pastor in Edmonton Temple at the time.  

 

In December 1997 the church acquired its first property in Peckham, South East London. In 2007 - following a prophetic word regarding the direction of the South London Temple facility to extend its activities beyond the South of London, the church changed its name to Freedom Centre International (FCI).   

 

As Edmonton Temple and FCI ministries continued to experience phenomenal growth in their congregations and service attendance, they began to rapidly outgrow their facilities.

 

As a result, UPGM purchased a 3000 seat auditorium (the former Palace Cinema in Wood Green, for Edmonton Temple and changed its name to Dominion Centre.

 

Dominion Centre then became the headquarters for UPGM. In 2010, UPGM purchased a former 1930’s cinema in Welling, Kent as the headquarters for FCI.

 

Today, FCI runs one church from two locations - operating from Peckham and Welling. It also has several thriving branches in Luton, Telford and Edinburgh in the UK; as well as a branch in Dallas Texas, USA and a branch in Accra, Ghana.