Billy Graham’s legacy in London began with a simple prayer: for God’s will to be done in one of the largest cities in the world.

Between 1954 and 1989, God answered that humble prayer, as Billy Graham reached more than 4 million people in London. Hundreds of thousands made decisions for Christ, leaving a legacy that continues to shape lives and churches in the United Kingdom today.

Years earlier, Billy Graham’s connection to the U.K. began in 1946 when he first visited the country and again in 1947 while serving as an evangelist with Youth for Christ. Those early trips sparked a deep burden for the U.K. that would continue to grow and shape his ministry for decades to come.

1954

When Billy Graham stepped off the train at London’s Waterloo Station in March 1954, he did not receive a warm welcome.

Instead, reporters pressed him with tough questions, critics questioned his motives, and many doubted that an American evangelist could make an impact in Great Britain. Billy Graham later admitted being deeply discouraged by the opposition and spent much of the following day praying for strength and courage. In his autobiography, Just As I Am, the young evangelist recalled praying, “Lord, I can only commit the entire matter to You. I know that what You want to happen will happen. It’s out of my hands.”

Despite a challenging start, crowds steadily increased night after night during the 1954 Greater London Crusade. Harringay Arena filled to capacity most nights while thousands of people stood outside hoping to gain entrance.

Over the course of the 12-weeks, over 2 million people attended the outreach with approximately 40,000 people making decisions to follow Jesus Christ. The Crusade that began with uncertainty became one of the most influential evangelistic campaigns of the 20th century, marking Billy Graham’s first major international breakthrough.

1955

Billy Graham returned to London in 1955 for a weeklong Crusade at Wembley Stadium, building on the momentum of the historic Harringay events the year before.

Rain fell almost every evening of the Crusade, with only the final night remaining dry—though reportedly the coldest night of the year. The weather did little to deter those eager to hear the Gospel. More than 450,000 people attended the meetings, and nearly 24,000 responded to the invitation to commit their lives to Christ.

The year also brought significant opportunities beyond the pulpit. Before departing for an evangelistic tour of Scotland, Billy Graham was invited to London’s 10 Downing Street for a private meeting with Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill. The two men spent time discussing matters of faith, world issues and the mission of the church in the midst of a changing culture.

That same year, the evangelist received an invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to preach at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, the royal residence located about 25 miles west of London. It marked the beginning of a relationship with the Royal Family that would continue for decades. Billy Graham later described preaching at Windsor as both a privilege and a humbling reminder of God’s faithfulness.

1966

More than a decade later, Billy Graham returned to the city at a pivotal moment in British history.

The 1960s brought sweeping cultural change. Traditional beliefs were increasingly challenged, and a generation of young people found themselves searching for meaning in an era defined by social transformation.

But when the Greater London Crusade of 1966 opened at Earl’s Court, thousands accepted the invitation to hear the Gospel. Young adults filled the arena alongside families and churchgoers, eager to hear the evangelist’s message of hope, truth and redemption through Jesus Christ. Over a million people attended the Crusade, with more than 40,000 making a decision to follow Jesus Christ.

1989

Billy Graham’s final London Crusade came in 1989 with Mission England, a nationwide evangelistic outreach that united thousands of churches across the country.

At Wembley Stadium, familiar scenes unfolded once again. Rain poured down, yet the crowds came. People traveled from across the country to hear the evangelist who had first captured Britain’s attention more than three decades earlier.

The message had not changed. Billy Graham preached about God’s love, the reality of sin and the saving grace found in Christ alone. As he had done throughout his ministry, he invited people to place their faith in Jesus Christ and begin a new life with Him.

Mission England served as a fitting conclusion to Billy Graham’s public ministry in London. From Harringay Arena in 1954 to Wembley Stadium in 1989, millions had heard the Gospel and countless lives had been transformed by the message he faithfully proclaimed.

You can learn more about Billy Graham’s global ministry when you take the The Journey of Faith tour at the Billy Graham Library. Book your free tour today.