British

Founded
1837 June 4

The British Mission was 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.

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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 Parker 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
British (1837 - ?) Profile
Birmingham Conference, January 1899
Birmingham Conference, January 1899
British Mission headquarters, 1903
British Mission headquarters, 1903
Group of missionaries of the British Mission, circa 1910.
Group of missionaries of the British Mission, circa 1910.
Nottingham Conference, October 1890
Nottingham Conference, October 1890
European Mission Headquarters, circa 1880
European Mission Headquarters, circa 1880
Heber J. Grant and Missionaries in Britain
Heber J. Grant and Missionaries in Britain
Smiths, Nibleys, and Grants
Smiths, Nibleys, and Grants
A Special District Meeting
A Special District Meeting
Scottish Conference, December 1899
Scottish Conference, December 1899
Newcastle Conference, May 1899
Newcastle Conference, May 1899
Convention of Mission and Conference Presidents
Convention of Mission and Conference Presidents
Conference Presidents' Convention
Conference Presidents' Convention
Manchester Conference, November 1911
Manchester Conference, November 1911
Liverpool Conference, 1910
Liverpool Conference, 1910
Norwich Conference, July 1891
Norwich Conference, July 1891
Scottish Conference, 1898
Scottish Conference, 1898
Manchester Conference, April 1898
Manchester Conference, April 1898
Presidents of British Mission Conferences
Presidents of British Mission Conferences
Mission Conference, 1930
Mission Conference, 1930
Nottingham Conference, October 1899
Nottingham Conference, October 1899
The LDS Chapel of 1899, Lowestoft
The LDS Chapel of 1899, Lowestoft
Lowestoft, a LDS Chapel,  1899 October
Lowestoft, a LDS Chapel, 1899 October

Sources

Mission