Hillsong London

Hillsong Church London is a Pentecostal Christian church, and is the London congregation of Hillsong Church, which also meets in Sydney, Paris, Kiev, Cape Town, and Stockholm. The church was planted by Hillsong Church in Sydney and has been pastored by Gary and Cathy Clarke for the past 10 years under the leadership of Hillsong's Senior Pastors Brian and Bobbie Houston.
Between 2000 and 2002 Hillsong London met in various West End theatres and university halls around London. Towards the end of 2004, they ended a 2 year residency in the Mermaid Conference and Events Centre, holding seven services a weekend. As of January 2005[update], the church holds four services on a Sunday at the Dominion Theatre, which seats around 2200 people. In August 2005, Hillsong London began holding services in Leatherhead, Surrey (south west of London).

Church services at the Dominion Theatre are currently at 10.30am, 1.00pm, 3.30pm and 6.00pm and services in Surrey are at 10.30am and 6pm. Services have also begun Amsterdam on Sundays.

Over the four services held every Sunday in the Dominion Theatre and two services in Leatherhead, Surrey, the total congregation size is around 9,500 people.

On Sunday 13 September 2009 Hillsong London held a service at the London O2 Arena, to celebrate 10 years of the church in London. More than 14,000 people attended, and thousands more were unable to get inside, as the hired area of the venue was at capacity.

Hillsong London now hosts two annual conferences:

Colour

The Colour Your World Women's Conference began in London in 2004 and takes place in May every year. It is hosted by Bobbie Houston. In 2006 the event was held at Wembley Conference Centre and since 2007, the conference has been hosted in the Royal Albert Hall. In 2010 Colour Your World Women's Conference is moving to one of London's Premier Venues Wembley Arena.

Hillsong Conference Europe

Hillsong Conference Europe is held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in Docklands (East London). In 2010, Hillsong Conference Europe was held in The O2 Arena, London. Guests for the 2010 Hillsong Conference Europe include, Joel and Victoria Osteen, Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff and Lakewood Team, Judah Smith and Jentezen Franklin. More than 5000 delegates attended the 2010 Hillsong Conference Europe at The O2 Arena. Special guests Joel and Victoria Osteen were invited to the 2010 conference, a sold out turn out of more than 13000 people turned for the A Night of Hope in London (part of the conference that year). Hillsong London will be hosting their annual Hillsong Conference Europe 2011 at the The O2 Arena. The date has been moved from October to July 2011 in the summer, to accommodate more people to attend the Conference. Guests to be confirmed in the coming months.

In 2004, Hillsong London released their first live worship album, entitled Shout God's Fame (which was recorded live at the Mermaid Conference and Events Centre in mid-2003 by the Hillsong London team). English pop singer Natasha Bedingfield, a member of the church, wrote and performed some of the songs on this album.

In October 2005 their second album, Jesus Is was recorded live by the Hillsong London team and Matt Redman and released in May 2006.

In December 2006, Hillsong London released a remixed version of their album Jesus Is, called Jesus Is: Remix. Initially only released for sale directly at the Church, this album contains re-mixes of 12 songs from Jesus Is.

On October 8, 2008 the Hail to the King studio album & live DVD was released.

On 24 August 2009 Hillsong released "C.I.T.Y" as a single, and reached #16 on the UK Top 30 Indie Singles Charts in mid 2009.

On 24 January 2010, Hillsong London recorded songs that were included on the latest Hillsong LIVE DVD album A Beautiful Exchange, released 29 July 2010.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillsong_London