On 4 June 1837, Heber C. Kimball was set apart to open a mission in England. Over the next few days Orson Hyde, Joseph Fielding, and Willard Richards were called to join him. The first missionaries to England arrived in Liverpool on 20 July 1837. The first branch in England was organized in Preston on 6 August 1837.
The British Mission eventually became the largest mission in the Church during the nineteenth century. For many years, the President of the British Mission also held the title of President of the European Mission, which meant that he supervised the presidents of the other missions in Europe. This changed in 1928 when the European Mission president began no longer directly operating the British Mission.
Timeline Activity
1837
On 4 June 1837, Heber C. Kimball was set apart to open a mission in England. Over the next few days Orson Hyde, Joseph Fielding, and Willard Richards were called to join him. The first missionaries to England arrived in Liverpool on 20 July 1837.
The first branch in England was organized in Preston on 6 August 1837.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1837
Mission Founded
1837 June 4
Heber C Kimball Called as President
1837 June 13 – 1838 April 20 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1837 June 13
Departed from Home
Ended On 1838 April 20
Departed from Field
Joseph Fielding Called as President
1838 April – 1840 July See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1838 April
Called
Ended On 1840 July
Released
British Saints Emigrate
1840 June 6
The first group of Church members emigrating from England, 41 in number, left Liverpool on 6 June 1840 under the charge of John Moon.
Date Details
Occurred On 1840 June 6
Brigham Young Called as President
1840 July – 1841 April 21 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1840 July
Called
Ended On 1841 April 21
Departed from Field
Parley P Pratt Called as President
1841 April 21 – 1842 October 29 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1841 April 21
Called
Ended On 1842 October 29
Departed from Field
Mission Headquarters
1842
Mission headquarters was moved from Manchester to Liverpool in 1842.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1842
Reuben Hedlock Called as President
1843 September 30 – 1845 April 6 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1843 September 30
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1845 April 6
Released
Wilford Woodruff Called as President
1845 January 3 – 1846 April 23 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1845 January 3
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1846 April 23
Arrived at Home
Orson Hyde Called as President
1846 July 31 – 1847 April 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1846 July 31
Departed from Home
Ended On 1847 April 8
Arrived at Home
Orson Spencer Called as President
1847 February – 1848 August See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1847 February
Called
Ended On 1848 August
Released
Orson Pratt Called as President
1848 May 11 – 1851 October 4 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1848 May 11
Departed from Home
Ended On 1851 October 4
Arrived at Home
Franklin Dewey Richards Called as President
1851 January 30 – 1852 May 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1851 January 30
Called
Ended On 1852 May 8
Departed from Field
Samuel Whitney Richards Called as President
1852 May 8 – 1854 August 26 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1852 May 8
Called
Ended On 1854 August 26
Arrived at Home
Franklin Dewey Richards Called as President
1854 June 4 – 1856 July 26 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1854 June 4
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1856 July 26
Departed from Field
Orson Pratt Called as President
1856 July 13 – 1857 October 14 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1856 July 13
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1857 October 14
Departed from Field
Samuel Whitney Richards Called as President
1857 October 3 – 1858 May 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1857 October 3
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1858 May 8
Arrived at Home
Asa Calkin Called as President
1858 May – 1860 May See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1858 May
Called
Ended On 1860 May
Released
Nathaniel Vary Jones Called as President
1859 September 19 – 1860 August See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1859 September 19
Departed from Home
Ended On 1860 August
Released
Amasa M. Lyman Called as President
1860 April 30 – 1862 September 16 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1860 April 30
Departed from Home
Ended On 1862 September 16
Arrived at Home
Charles Coulson Rich Called as President
1860 April 30 – 1862 September 16 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1860 April 30
Set Apart
Ended On 1862 September 16
Released
George Q. Cannon Called as President
1860 September 23 – 1864 October 10 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1860 September 23
Set Apart
Ended On 1864 October 10
Arrived at Home
Boundary Change
1864 March
The Welsh Mission was discontinued in March 1864 and reabsorbed into the British Mission.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1864 March
Daniel Hanmer Wells Called as President
1864 April 24 – 1865 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1864 April 24
Set Apart
Ended On 1865
Released
Brigham Young, Jr. Called as President
1864 April 24 – 1867 June 29 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1864 April 24
Set Apart
Ended On 1867 June 29
Departed from Field
Franklin Dewey Richards Called as President
1866 August 12 – 1868 October 1 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1866 August 12
Set Apart
Ended On 1868 October 1
Arrived at Home
Albert Carrington Called as President
1868 August 16 – 1870 June 15 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1868 August 16
Set Apart
Ended On 1870 June 15
Departed from Field
Horace Sunderlin Eldredge Called as President
1870 May 8 – 1871 July See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1870 May 8
Set Apart
Ended On 1871 July
Released
Albert Carrington Called as President
1871 April 10 – 1873 October 22 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1871 April 10
Set Apart
Ended On 1873 October 22
Departed from Field
George Washington Wilkins Called as President
1871 April 10 – 1872 September 26 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1871 April 10
Set Apart
Ended On 1872 September 26
Arrived at Home
Joseph F Smith Called as President
1873 November 28 – 1876 October 1 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1873 November 28
Set Apart
Ended On 1876 October 1
Arrived at Home
Albert Carrington Called as President
1875 August 24 – 1877 May 30 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1875 August 24
Set Apart
Ended On 1877 May 30
Departed from Field
Joseph F Smith Called as President
1877 April 25 – September 28 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1877 April 25
Set Apart
Ended On 1877 September 28
Arrived at Home
William Budge Called as President
1878 June 13 – 1880 November 23 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1878 June 13
Set Apart
Ended On 1880 November 23
Arrived at Home
Albert Carrington Called as President
1880 October 13 – 1882 November 25 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1880 October 13
Set Apart
Ended On 1882 November 25
Departed from Field
John Henry Smith Called as President
1882 October 28 – 1885 January 24 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1882 October 28
Called
Ended On 1885 January 24
Departed from Field
Moroni Llewellyn Pratt Called as President
1884 April 7 – 1886 May 22 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1884 April 7
Set Apart
Ended On 1886 May 22
Departed from Field
Daniel Hanmer Wells Called as President
1884 December 23 – 1887 February See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1884 December 23
Called
Ended On 1887 February
Released
George Teasdale Called as President
1887 February – 1890 September 29 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1887 February
Called
Ended On 1890 September 29
Released
Brigham Young, Jr. Called as President
1890 September 4 – 1893 February 22 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1890 September 4
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1893 February 22
Departed from Field
Alfred Solomon Called as President
1893 February 22 – June 13 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1893 February 22
Called
Ended On 1893 June 13
Released
Anthon Henrik Lund Called as President
1893 June 13 – 1896 July 23 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1893 June 13
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1896 July 23
Departed from Field
Rulon Seymour Wells Called as President
1896 June 24 – 1898 December 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1896 June 24
Set Apart
Ended On 1898 December 8
Departed from Field
Platte De Alton Lyman Called as President
1898 November 4 – 1901 June 24 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1898 November 4
Set Apart
Ended On 1901 June 24
Arrived at Home
Mission Headquarters
1900
Mission home located at 10 Holly Row, Fairfield, Liverpool, England.
Date Details
Occurred On 1900
Francis Marion Lyman Called as President
1901 April 18 – 1904 February 1 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1901 April 18
Set Apart
Ended On 1904 February 1
Arrived at Home
Heber J. Grant Called as President
1903 November 28 – 1906 December 5 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1903 November 28
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1906 December 5
Departed from Field
Charles William Penrose Called as President
1906 October 19 – 1910 June 21 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1906 October 19
Set Apart
Ended On 1910 June 21
Arrived at Home
Josiah Henry Eardley Called as President
1907 December 24 – 1910 May 27 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1907 December 24
Set Apart
Ended On 1910 May 27
Released
Mission Headquarters
1910
The mission home, known as Durham House, was located at 295 Edge Lane, Liverpool, England.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1910
Rudger Clawson Called as President
1910 May 16 – 1913 April 11 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1910 May 16
Set Apart
Ended On 1913 April 11
Released
Ezra Taft Benson Called as President
1911 February 21 – 1913 October 9 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1911 February 21
Set Apart
Ended On 1913 October 9
Arrived at Home
Hyrum Mack Smith Called as President
1913 September 10 – 1916 September 15 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1913 September 10
Set Apart
Ended On 1916 September 15
Released
George Franklin Richards Called as President
1916 August 5 – 1919 July 25 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1916 August 5
Set Apart
Ended On 1919 July 25
Arrived at Home
George Albert Smith Called as President
1919 June 4 – 1921 July 8 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1919 June 4
Set Apart
Ended On 1921 July 8
Departed from Field
Orson Ferguson Whitney Called as President
1921 May 19 – 1922 November 16 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1921 May 19
Set Apart
Ended On 1922 November 16
Released
David O. McKay Called as President
1922 November 3 – 1924 December 20 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1922 November 3
Set Apart
Ended On 1924 December 20
Arrived at Home
James Edward Talmage Called as President
1924 October 9 – 1928 January 5 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1924 October 9
Set Apart
Ended On 1928 January 5
Departed from Field
John Andreas Widtsoe Called as President
1927 November 21 – 1928 December 31 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1927 November 21
Set Apart
Ended On 1928 December 31
Released
Organization Change
1928
The British Mission was separated from the direct management of the European Mission president at the end of 1928 and August William Lund was the first president of only the British Mission.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1928
August William Lund Called as President
1928 November 21 – 1932 February 21 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1928 November 21
Set Apart
Ended On 1932 February 21
Released
Mission Headquarters
1929 January 1 – 1932
Beginning 1 January 1929, mission headquarters were located at 23 Booth Street, Handsworth, Birmingham.
Date Details
Started Circa 1929 January 1
Ended On 1932
Mission Headquarters
1932
Mission headquarters moved in 1932 to 43 Tavistock Square, London, England.
Date Details
Occurred Circa 1932
James Henry Douglas Called as President
1932 January 13 – 1934 December 29 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1932 January 13
Arrived in Field
Ended On 1934 December 29
Departed from Field
Joseph Jenne Cannon Called as President
1934 November 26 – 1937 September 10 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1934 November 26
Set Apart
Ended On 1937 September 10
Departed from Field
Hugh Brown Brown Called as President
1937 June 12 – 1940 January 28 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1937 June 12
Set Apart
Ended On 1940 January 28
Arrived at Home
Hugh Brown Brown Called as President
1944 March 4 – 1946 May 7 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1944 March 4
Departed from Home
Ended On 1946 May 7
Released
Clifton George Mercer Kerr Called as President
1955 – 1958 See Missionaries
Date Details
Started On 1955
Called
Ended On 1958
Released
Media
British (1837 - ?) Profile
Birmingham Conference, January 1899
British Mission headquarters, 1903
Group of missionaries of the British Mission, circa 1910.
Nottingham Conference, October 1890
European Mission Headquarters, circa 1880
Heber J. Grant and Missionaries in Britain
Smiths, Nibleys, and Grants
A Special District Meeting
Scottish Conference, December 1899
Newcastle Conference, May 1899
Convention of Mission and Conference Presidents
Conference Presidents' Convention
Manchester Conference, November 1911
Liverpool Conference, 1910
Norwich Conference, July 1891
Scottish Conference, 1898
Manchester Conference, April 1898
Presidents of British Mission Conferences
Mission Conference, 1930
Nottingham Conference, October 1899
The LDS Chapel of 1899, Lowestoft
Lowestoft, a LDS Chapel, 1899 October