The 1900s

During the Second World War, in 1940, a landmine explosion caused extensive roof damage. The congregation moved to St Peter's Vere Street until 1951. 

In the early 1970s, some excavations were carried out, leading to the discovery that Nash had sunk foundations for the Church, thirteen feet deep.  This 'find' led to a major and very exciting building project (from May 1975 to November 1976) under the leadership of then Rector, the Revd Michael Baughen (who was later appointed Bishop of Chester and more recently Hon. Assistant Bishop of London).  Six thousand cubic metres of earth were removed by one man and a bulldozer, thereby excavating what was to become the Waldegrave Hall underneath the Church.  When you come to visit the Hall today, you can still see the original inverted Nash arches.  Also during this building project, the opportunity was taken to restructure the interior of the Church to make it more suitable for present day forms of worship.  The £750,000 needed to fund this project was raised by the prayers and giving of hundreds of All Souls members and Christian friends from the UK and all around the world, as well as from the sale of the old Waldegrave Hall.

Our neighbour, the BBC, used All Souls to broadcast the daily service from 1951 to 1994, when the religious broadcasting department moved to Manchester.

All Souls Clubhouse was opened in November 1958. The vision for the newly acquired property in Cleveland Street was that it should be an island within the parish, a Community and Youth Centre. It continues to have close links with All Souls School.

The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity was founded by John Stott in 1982. Its mission is to help Christians engage biblically, rigorously and promptly with contemporary issues.

In 1988 St Paul's Church, Robert Adam Street, became a Chapel of Ease in the Parish of All Souls. In 1989 it was used as a base for the Billy Graham Mission in London. It is now used predominantly for All Souls training courses and small group meetings, and provides offices for the music staff.

A major influence in the life and worship of All Souls in the 20th century has been the Rev Dr. John Stott. He was first involved with All Souls as a child, parishioner, and later, from 1945, as Curate, then Rector, and now Rector Emeritus.