Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England came into being in 2003. Its first bishops — Bishops Barry Shucksmith and Arthur Bentley-Taylor— had been outspoken in their criticisms of the direction that the FCE was taking regarding ecumenism in particular, and were removed from the body in 2003. The Connexion insists that the reason for the removal from the Free Church of England was the bishops' (Shucksmith and Bentley-Taylor) belief that the FCE's engagement with the modern ecumenical movement meant that the church's foundational principles, particularly as a distinctively Reformed and Protestant Church, had been abandoned.
The FCE's Declaration of Principles (to which the Connexion also still adheres) recognises the essential unity of all who, by a like faith, are united to the one Divine and Common Head of the Church (Jesus Christ) and requires the FCE to maintain communion with all other Christian Churches. The Connexion believes this should not go as far as participation in the modern ecumenical movement which today embraces many who would deny other fundamental doctrinal tenets of the FCE. This is because the Connexion use Biblical explanations for what makes a Christian, and not human methodology.
At present the Connexion consists of 7 congregations in England, located as follows,
The Presiding Bishop is minister at
Most of the Connexion's church buildings are still claimed by the FCE, on the grounds that their use by congregations of the Connexion contravenes the terms of their Trust Deeds. However, in a recent letter from Bp Paul Hunt of the FCE to the Pensions Ombudsman, he has stated that the FCE is no longer following legal proceedings to 'regain' the buildings because "the cost of sorting this out would not be in the interest of the Trust" [Central Trust of the FCE].
The Connexion remains committed to its interpretation of the founding principles of the FCE. Biblical theology, paedobaptism
, liturgical worship, and episcopal polity are all important, although understood in light of the Declaration of Principles.
The Evangelical Connexion is not a member of the Anglican Communion
. The Connexion is, however, a member of the organisation Affinity
(formerly the British Evangelical Council). Individual members and congregations have contacts within both the FIEC
and Affinity.
Recent contacts for this group include the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
and the Church of England in South Africa
, as well as the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC). The Connexion holds to the supremacy of the Bible in determining doctrine and practice and stands in the body of continuing Anglican churches which take their inspiration from the English Reformers. The Connexion currently contends that is the one remaining Protestant
, Reformed
, Evangelical
, Anglican-style body in the UK whose doctrine
and worship
are still based on Scripture and the Prayer Book
. Exclusive use of the Prayer Book in Connexion parishes is not required, however. The Connexion has not authorised its own modern language liturgy, but does allow (with the Presiding Bishop's permission), the use of some services from 'An English Prayer Book' (Church Society Publications — OUP).
The Reverend Dominic Stockford, a former Roman Catholic priest who left that communion in 1993, was elected and consecrated to be the Presiding Bishop in the Connexion on May 5, 2008. The consecrators were Bishop Arthur Bentley Taylor, along with other Connexion presbyters, as well as a number of senior clergy from bodies outside the Evangelical Connexion that share its principles (e.g., The Church Society and Rupert Bentley-Taylor of the FIEC).
In September 2010, the Rev. Tony Pietersen (brother of Kevin Pietersen
, the England cricketer) was inducted as the minister in the Connexion's congregation of Emmanuel Church, in Workington
, Cumbria
.
The FCE's Declaration of Principles (to which the Connexion also still adheres) recognises the essential unity of all who, by a like faith, are united to the one Divine and Common Head of the Church (Jesus Christ) and requires the FCE to maintain communion with all other Christian Churches. The Connexion believes this should not go as far as participation in the modern ecumenical movement which today embraces many who would deny other fundamental doctrinal tenets of the FCE. This is because the Connexion use Biblical explanations for what makes a Christian, and not human methodology.
At present the Connexion consists of 7 congregations in England, located as follows,
-
-
- St Paul's Church, FleetwoodFleetwoodFleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, Lancs - Christ Church, Cross Gates, LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, W.Yorks - Christ Church, TuebrookTuebrookTuebrook is an area of inner-city Liverpool, Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,490.-Toponymy:The origin of the name may be Tew Brook, which was a tributary of the Alt...
, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... - St Stephen's Church, MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Cleveland - Emmanuel Church, WorkingtonWorkingtonWorkington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
, Cumbria - Christ Church, Leigh-on-SeaLeigh-on-SeaLeigh-on-Sea , sometimes called Leigh, is a civil parish in Essex, England. It is part of Southend-on-Sea for administrative purposes. It became a civil parish in 1996. The council tax was increased to support it. A town council was formed. Leigh is the only parish in Southend...
, Essex
- St Paul's Church, Fleetwood
-
The Presiding Bishop is minister at
-
-
- Christ Church, TeddingtonTeddingtonTeddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
, Middlesex
- Christ Church, Teddington
-
Most of the Connexion's church buildings are still claimed by the FCE, on the grounds that their use by congregations of the Connexion contravenes the terms of their Trust Deeds. However, in a recent letter from Bp Paul Hunt of the FCE to the Pensions Ombudsman, he has stated that the FCE is no longer following legal proceedings to 'regain' the buildings because "the cost of sorting this out would not be in the interest of the Trust" [Central Trust of the FCE].
The Connexion remains committed to its interpretation of the founding principles of the FCE. Biblical theology, paedobaptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
, liturgical worship, and episcopal polity are all important, although understood in light of the Declaration of Principles.
The Evangelical Connexion is not a member of the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
. The Connexion is, however, a member of the organisation Affinity
Affinity (Christian organisation)
Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following...
(formerly the British Evangelical Council). Individual members and congregations have contacts within both the FIEC
Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches is a network of over 500 independent, evangelical churches mainly in the United Kingdom that preach an evangelical faith...
and Affinity.
Affinity (Christian organisation)
Affinity describes itself as "a growing network of many hundreds of Bible-centred churches and Christian agencies throughout Britain and Ireland". It was founded in 1953 as the British Evangelical Council and in 1981 numbered over 2,000 churches. The organization stagnated in the 1980s following...
Recent contacts for this group include the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales is a reformed and conservative evangelical denomination in England and Wales....
and the Church of England in South Africa
Church of England in South Africa
The Church of England in South Africa was constituted in 1938 as a federation of churches. It is an Anglican church but it is not a member of the Anglican Communion. However, it relates closely to the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia, to which it is similar in that it sees itself...
, as well as the Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches (EFCC). The Connexion holds to the supremacy of the Bible in determining doctrine and practice and stands in the body of continuing Anglican churches which take their inspiration from the English Reformers. The Connexion currently contends that is the one remaining Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, Reformed
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
, Anglican-style body in the UK whose doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
and worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
are still based on Scripture and the Prayer Book
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
. Exclusive use of the Prayer Book in Connexion parishes is not required, however. The Connexion has not authorised its own modern language liturgy, but does allow (with the Presiding Bishop's permission), the use of some services from 'An English Prayer Book' (Church Society Publications — OUP).
The Reverend Dominic Stockford, a former Roman Catholic priest who left that communion in 1993, was elected and consecrated to be the Presiding Bishop in the Connexion on May 5, 2008. The consecrators were Bishop Arthur Bentley Taylor, along with other Connexion presbyters, as well as a number of senior clergy from bodies outside the Evangelical Connexion that share its principles (e.g., The Church Society and Rupert Bentley-Taylor of the FIEC).
In September 2010, the Rev. Tony Pietersen (brother of Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Pietersen
Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for England and Surrey...
, the England cricketer) was inducted as the minister in the Connexion's congregation of Emmanuel Church, in Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.