Mission History

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland

The history of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland began in the early stages of the Reformation. Merchants and students from the German cities of Wittenberg and Konigsberg brought Martin Luther's works back to Poland with them. The first Lutheran sermons were held in 1518, and in 1523 the first Lutheran dean was called to Wroclaw.

The ECACP suffered a great deal during and after World War II. The ranks of pastors, teachers and other church leadership were severely diminished by persecution, imprisonment, and death. During the early postwar years, a staggering number of church properties were taken over for other purposes.

During the early 1980s, several Christian groups in Warsaw began meeting in private homes. The first worship service of Warsaw International Church was held in 1984. The new church received support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Reformed Church in America, and the United Church of Christ. Originally, the congregation worshiped in rooms at the U.S. or British Embassies. After outgrowing those facilities, the group moved to its present building in 1991.