The francophone African church in Britain
Francophone African Christians have built vibrant churches in London, Manchester, Leeds and Dublin, often worshipping in French and Lingala. Many others belong to English-speaking churches, especially the second generation and families who moved for work or study. For older members and new arrivals, French is the language of the Bible they grew up with, of school, and of prayer.
These members often take an active part in church life: singing in the choir, leading prayer meetings, welcoming newcomers. But following a long sermon in English can still take real effort, particularly when the preacher speaks quickly or uses British idioms. A live sermon translation into French lets them hear the full argument of the sermon instead of piecing it together.
Refugees and asylum seekers
French-speaking newcomers also arrive through the asylum system, sometimes placed in hotels or shared housing near a church that runs a drop-in or a language café. When they come to a Sunday service, French captions and voice let them understand from the first week. The page on refugees and newcomers describes how churches make this part of a wider welcome.
International churches in French-speaking Europe
The other direction matters too. English-speaking churches in Brussels, Paris, Geneva or Luxembourg serve diplomats, EU staff and expats, and often have French-speaking spouses or local friends in the pews. Offering French helps these churches stay connected to the city around them.
How it works
- 01Scan the QR code
It can be on the screen, in the notice sheet or on the welcome desk. The page opens in the browser.
- 02Choose Français
No account and no app needed. iPhone users can use the App Store app if they prefer.
- 03Listen or read
The French voice runs a few seconds behind the preacher, with captions on screen. The original English can be shown alongside for those improving their English.
A note on quality
The translation is into standard French. It follows a sermon well, along with prayers and notices, but Bible names, quotations and theological vocabulary remain the hardest part. ChurchTranslate keeps a terminology list per language to correct known terms. For a pastoral conversation or an official appointment, a human interpreter remains the better choice; see interpreter or AI translation.
Cost
A two-hour service into French uses 120 credits, however many people listen. The Lite plan (€65 per month, 480 credits) is enough for four such services into one language. See the pricing.