And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Matthew 28.18-20
Our Church Planter
The Reverend J. M. Bragatto
Covenant Church of London began as a church plant led by the Reverend J. M. Bragatto, in partnership with the Mission Board JMP (Junta Missionária de Pinheiros) and Pinheiros Presbyterian Church in Brazil.
Rev. Bragatto is Italian-descent born in the south of Brazil and a third-generation minister, having grown up in a family devoted to the gospel and missionary work. From a young age, he began studying theology and preaching, soon serving as a travelling speaker and evangelist across Brazil. His early ministry included missionary work in the South Amazon region and outreach in some of the most deprived areas of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
He has also served as a lecturer in Systematic Theology, Eschatology, and Apologetics in various Bible institutes and seminaries.
While lecturing at a Bible college in London in 2016, Rev. Bragatto sensed a clear call from God to serve as a missionary in the United Kingdom. That call was confirmed, and the following year, his missionary journey in the UK began. Since then, he has served as a church planter and has been involved in the revitalisation of three churches in the north of England.
Rev. Bragatto is married to Chanel Bragatto, and father to their daughter, Joanna.
Our History
The Reformation:
Our Theological Roots
The roots of Covenant Church of London lie deep in the soil of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. This great spiritual awakening began in Germany with Martin Luther and soon spread across Europe. In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli and later John Calvin led what became known as the Swiss or Reformed Reformation. Calvin, ministering in Geneva, profoundly shaped Reformed theology through his writings—most notably the Institutes of the Christian Religion—and his commitment to a church governed by elders (presbyters), rather than bishops.
In Scotland, John Knox, a disciple of Calvin, established Presbyterianism as the national faith in 1560. It was in the English-speaking world that the term “Presbyterian” gained prominence, identifying churches governed by assemblies of elected elders and committed to Reformed doctrine.
These churches held in common not only a theological heritage marked by the sovereignty of God, covenant theology, and the authority of Scripture, but also a vision for education, piety, and global mission.
Presbyterianism in Brazil:
From Mission to Movement
Presbyterianism reached Brazilian soil in 1859 through the missionary work of Ashbel Green Simonton, a minister of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Simonton arrived in Rio de Janeiro with a clear calling: to preach the gospel, plant churches, and train ministers in the Reformed faith.
From modest beginnings, the Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Igreja Presbiteriana do Brasil – IPB) grew steadily and faithfully. Today, it is a robust and theologically sound denomination, comprising more than 3,000 churches and congregations across Brazil, with over 700,000 members. The IPB is known for its doctrinal fidelity, structured Presbyterian government, and commitment to Christian education, mercy ministry, and missionary work.
Pinheiros Presbyterian Church:
A Missionary Church
in São Paulo
One of the most vibrant congregations within the IPB is the Igreja Presbiteriana de Pinheiros (Pinheiros Presbyterian Church) in São Paulo. Established in 1906, Pinheiros has become a centre for expository preaching, theological training, and global mission.
In 2008, the church formally established its missionary arm—the Junta Missionária de Pinheiros (JMP)—to fulfil the biblical command to make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15). Currently, the JMP has supports more than 120 missionaries worldwide, working across Brazil and in more than ten other countries.
In the state of São Paulo alone, the JMP partners with over 30 congregations, many of which are part of Project 50/10, an initiative launched in 2012 with the goal of planting fifty new churches in ten years in municipalities without a local Presbyterian presence. Through these efforts, Pinheiros is reaching unreached cities and peoples with the gospel of Christ.
The Missionary Legacy
of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has played a remarkable role in the history of world mission. From the 18th century onwards, British Churches sent missionaries across the globe, establishing churches, schools, hospitals, and mission societies rooted in Reformed theology. Men and women from Presbyterian, Anglican, and Free Church backgrounds were instrumental in spreading the gospel and planting biblically faithful churches across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Today, in God's providence, the direction of mission is no longer one-way. Just as Britain once sent missionaries to distant nations, now believers from the Global South—including Brazil—are coming to Europe to preach the gospel once more. In our generation, Brazilians are responding to the same missionary call: to proclaim Christ and plant Reformed, missional churches throughout Europe, including here in London.
Covenant Church of London:
A Mission Work in a Global City
We exist as an extension of the Reformed and Presbyterian witness that began with the Reformation, was brought to Brazil by Ashbel Simonton, and continues through this missionary vision to reach London and beyond.
We are a bilingual congregation committed to faithful preaching, reverent worship, covenant community, and global mission. Our worship and theology reflect both the Westminster Standards and the Dutch Reformed heritage through the Three Forms of Unity. As such, we embrace both the richness of historic Presbyterian doctrine and the spiritual vitality that comes from knowing and proclaiming Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the heart of one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic cities, our mission is simple but profound: to plant a faithful church for the glory of God.
The Beginning:
3rd of November 2024
On the 3rd of November 2024, Covenant Church of London held its inaugural service, marking the start of our journey as a new church plant in the heart of London. Rooted in the faithful proclamation of the gospel, we aim to grow both in faithfulness to God’s Word and in the number of disciples, taking the gospel to London and beyond.
During our inaugural service, we joyfully sang "A Mighty Fortress is Our God," a powerful hymn by Martin Luther, proclaiming God’s faithfulness. The video of this moment can be found below.
The Inaugural Sermon Preached in English and in Portuguese:
Know What We Believe
The Holy Scriptures are our highest standard for truth and doctrine, shaping every aspect of what we preach and believe. To learn more about our core values and subordinate doctrinal standards, click the link below.
