ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the role of locality, spirituality and identity in the civic engagement of an 'African Pentecostal' church in Peckham, London. The case study was Freedom Centre International (FCI), a multi-ethnic church with a predominantly African migrant congregation. The chapter reflects a grassroots study of how the Pentecostal project affects the understandings and manifestations of civic engagement among African migrants in London. It explores the cosmopolitan and class narratives embedded in FCI-Peckham's expansion to Welling, a London suburb, which is a 40 minute train commute from Peckham. The chapter argues that 'the Welling project' is a distinct practice of FCI-Peckham's paradigm of civic engagement, one that is informed by locality and a cosmopolitan, Pentecostal agenda. It investigates the expansion of FCI from Peckham to Welling and has revealed the various reasons behind the church's distinctive choice of location. These reasons included a Pentecostal prophecy, reverse mission intentions and the attractiveness of the Welling demographic.
