In 1939 members of the Free Church of Scotland, resident in London, approached the denominational authorities in Edinburgh about holding regular services in London. Services were held occasionally during the war years but it was not till 1949 that a small group of people began to worship together on a regular basis. In 1954 the newly constituted congregation was in a position to call its first minister, Rev Hector Cameron. Rev Murdo Macleod and Rev John N Macleod later successively ministered to the congregation.  A new chapter began in 1979 with the induction of a Londoner, Rev Dr John Nicholls, to the London Free Church. Another significant step was taken in 1981 when the congregation moved into its first permanent home, St Nicholas Cole Abbey - a Church of England building no longer required for Anglican worship.
Historically, Cole Abbey was a guild church in the City: these traditional professions gave rise to the democratic arrangements we see today. From the guild structure, the Lord Mayor of the City of London is elected. Each guild has its church, and the minister of that church has an opportunity to preach to the members of the guild once a year. When the representative of the Cole Abbey Ward was elected Lord Mayor of London, Dr Nicholls was invited to perform a few ceremonial duties during the year as chaplain to the Lord Mayor. Hence at the annual Lord Mayor's banquet, at which the Chancellor of the Exchequer gives a keynote speech, a Free Church minister gave thanks!

Since 1981 Cole Abbey's mission has had a definite international focus with members from many countries. In the 1980's there was a strong Dutch contingent: indeed two young Dutch ladies married two of the Deacons! A survey in 1988 identified that only half the congregation had been born in Scotland or had a strong Scottish connection e.g. Scottish parents or married to a Scot.  A developing feature of recent years has been the strong links with other churches - Grove Chapel supported us faithfully during the vacancy by filling our pulpit on occasion - London City Mission's Waterloo Christian Centre granted us use of a flat as living accommodation for Rev Kenneth Boyd.
The official opening of the Cole Abbey building was on 3rd April 1982. The central location of the building, and its status as a Wren church of historic importance, contributed to the congregation's becoming more widely known. It increasingly provided a spiritual home for Christians from all over the UK and abroad - particularly from Reformed churches - with over a dozen nationalities represented in its membership.
In 1993 Dr Nicholls went to work with London City Mission, becoming Director of the Mission in 2003. His successor was Rev John Macpherson. In May 1999 Rev Kenneth Boyd became assistant minister, continuing with the congregation until 2001, i.e. a year after Rev John Macpherson retired from the ministry. In 1999 services began regularly in Cobham, supported by a number of the Cole Abbey congregation living in that area. In May 2003, they were able to call Rev David Miller as their minister.
From 2001 the congregation was without a minister but 2003 brought significant changes. The congregation relocated to St Botolph-without-Aldersgate, where we currently worship: our pastor, Rev David Strain, was inducted to the ministry of the congregation in October 2003.