Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales

Last updated
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
All Saints Church, Newcastle 2014.jpg
Polity Presbyterian
Clerk of PresbyteryFalko Drijfhout
Associations International Conference of Reformed Churches
RegionEngland, Wales, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany
Origin1996
Congregations23
PublicationsThe Presbyterian Network
www.epcew.org.uk

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales (EPCEW) (Welsh : Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Efengylaidd yng Nghymru a Lloegr) is a reformed and conservative evangelical Presbyterian denomination based in England and Wales with churches in Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. Founded in 1996, denominational growth has been steady but the denomination remains small with around 20 congregations.

Contents

History

In 1986, a Presbyterian conference was held in a Free Church of Scotland chapel in London, where a vision of a new Presbyterian denomination in England was proposed, which was to be faithful to Scripture and adhere to the Westminster Confession. As a consequence, the Presbyterian Association in England was formed in 1987 [1] from several small Christian groups and existing congregations with efforts at church planting following. In 1991, an interim Presbytery was formed with congregations in Blackburn, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Durham and Hull to work towards the establishment of the new denomination. This came to fruition in 1996, [1] taking the name, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. [2]

Several EPCEW ministers [3] were instrumental in the 2020 founding of Westminster Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Gateshead, England. [4]

Church planting

In 2000, two congregations in Cardiff, Immanuel and Bethel, were accepted into communion. [5] [6] The EPCEW has grown significantly since its founding with a number of congregations joining the EPCEW and others being planted by existing churches. The denomination is working to establish church plants in Oxford, [7] Lincoln, [8] Gloucester, [9] and Sunderland. [10] They are actively looking to plant churches throughout England and Wales. [11]

Denominational growth has been steady:

YearNumber of congregationsNotes
20006 [12]
200510 [13]
201015Includes two congregations in Sweden. [14]
201517Includes one congregation in Sweden and one congregation in Germany. [15]
202023There are 20 established churches with a congregation in Sweden, a church plant in Switzerland, and another in Germany. [16]

Congregations

As of 2020, the denomination has twenty-three congregations and church plants at: [17]

England

CongregationTown or CityMinisterWebsiteImage
All Saints Presbyterian Church Newcastle Upon Tyne Rev Benjamin Wontrop [18] All Saints Church - geograph.org.uk - 1770671.jpg
Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church Blackburn [19] Rev Norman Green [20] "Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church" Fecitt Brow, Blackburn, Lancashire (geograph 1992944).jpg
Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church Bury St Edmunds Matthew Jolley [21]
Cambridge Presbyterian Church Cambridge Rev Douglas McCallum [22]
Chelmsford Presbyterian Church Chelmsford Rev Darren Moore [23]
Durham Presbyterian Church Durham Rev Phil Baiden [24]
East Hull Presbyterian Church Hull Vacant The East Hull Presbyterian Church (geograph 3210104).jpg
Hexham Presbyterian Church Hexham Vacant [25]
Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church Leckhampton, Cheltenham Rev Matt Faux [26] Naunton Lane Evangelical Free Church (geograph 3023133).jpg
Oxford Presbyterian Church Oxford (Northgate Hall)Rev Andy Young [27] Northgate Hall, St Michael's Street, Oxford (crop).jpg
Sheffield Presbyterian Church Sheffield Rev Dr Kevin Bidwell [28] Attercliffe Chapel.jpg
Solihull Presbyterian Church Solihull Rev Dr Stephen Dancer [29]
Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sunderland Rev Nathan Hilton [30]
Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church Cheltenham Rev David Pfeiffer, [31] Rev Larry Wilkes Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church (geograph 5814551).jpg
Lincoln Presbyterian Church Lincoln Rev Ben Thomas [32]
Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church Gloucester Rev Michael Cochran, [33]
Rev Tim Dalton [34]

Wales

CongregationTown or CityMinisterWebsiteImage
Christ Presbyterian Church Barry [35] Rev Dr Drew Goodman [36]
Bethel Presbyterian Church Cardiff [37] Rev Andrew Graham
Immanuel Presbyterian Church Cardiff [38] Rev Dr Peter Naylor Immanuel Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Heol Trelai, Cardiff (geograph 1819385).jpg
Ely Presbyterian Church Ely, Cardiff [39] Rev Philip Haines

Sweden

Germany

Switzerland

Publications

The denomination publishes The Presbyterian Network in Spring and Autumn with theological and pastoral articles and news from its congregations. [43]

International organisations

Along with the Free Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing), the denomination is one of the three members of the International Conference of Reformed Churches from Great Britain, [44] and one of seven European Christian denominations who founded the European Conference of Reformed Churches. [45] The denomination has a co-operative agreement with the Presbyterian Church in America [46] and maintains relations with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Northern Ireland. [47]

Related Research Articles

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Presbyterianism is a Reformed (Calvinist) Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders. Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word Presbyterian is applied to churches that trace their roots to the Church of Scotland or to English Dissenter groups that formed during the English Civil War.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangelical Presbyterian Church (United States)</span> Protestant Reformed Evangelical church body

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) is an American church body holding to presbyterian governance and Reformed theology. It is a conservative Calvinist denomination. It is most distinctive for its approach to the way it balances certain liberties across congregations on "non-essential" doctrines, such as egalitarianism /complementarianism in marriage or the ordination of women, alongside an affirmation of core "essential" doctrinal standards.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine is a conservative Evangelical Protestant denomination in the Reformed tradition. It holds to the presbyterian form of church governance and to the Reformed theology of the Westminster Standards.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a Calvinist, Christian evangelical denomination that is found only in Northern Ireland, where it is the smallest of the Presbyterian churches. It was formed on 15 October 1927 by Rev. James Hunter (1863–1942), former minister of Knock Presbyterian Church (Belfast), and James (W.J.) Grier, a former student at the Assembly's College. They were joined by others who seceded from the Irish Presbyterian Church.

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The Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden was formed with help from Mission to the World missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in America. There is one congregations in Tranås. The church became part of the Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales in 2009.

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References

  1. 1 2 Bauswein, Jean-Jacques; Vischer, Lukas (1999). The Reformed Family Worldwide: A Survey of Reformed Churches, Theological Schools, and International Organizations. W.B. Eerdmans. p. 512. ISBN   9780802844965.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
  3. ↑ "Faculty Members". Westminster Seminary.
  4. ↑ "Our Story". Westminster Seminary.
  5. ↑ "Presbyterianism in England Today (Part 3)". Graham's Uncommon Place. 20 June 2010.
  6. ↑ "There Are Presbyterians in England and They're Having a Conference". The Heidelblog . 25 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church". Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  8. ↑ "Lincoln | Sheffield Presbyterian Church".
  9. ↑ "Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  10. ↑ "Sunderland Presbyterian Bible Study | nil desperandum auspice Deo". sunderlandpres.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  11. ↑ "EPCEW Statement on Church Planting" (PDF). epcew.org.uk.
  12. ↑ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2000-12-04. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  13. ↑ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2005-12-18. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  14. ↑ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  15. ↑ "Congregations". epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
  16. ↑ "Congregations | EPCEW".
  17. ↑ "EPCEW Congregations". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales Website. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Revd Benjamin Wontrop | All Saints Presbyterian Church". All Saints' Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "Church information". www.affinity.org.uk.
  20. ↑ "Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  21. ↑ "Leadership". Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church. Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  22. ↑ "People - About Us - Cambridge Presbyterian Church". www.cambridgepres.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  23. ↑ "Chelmsford Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  24. ↑ "Durham Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  25. ↑ "From Bible Study to Church Plant in Northern England - Mission to the World".
  26. ↑ "Leadership". Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  27. ↑ "Learn about the Oxford Plant". Gospel Reformation: UK. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  28. ↑ "Sheffield Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  29. ↑ "Solihull Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  30. ↑ "Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  31. ↑ "Cheltenham – Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  32. ↑ "About Us | Lincoln Presbyterian Church" . Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  33. ↑ "GRUKology Episode 16: Interview with Michael Cochran - Church Planting in Gloucester". Gospel Reformation: UK. Retrieved 2020-11-28.[ permanent dead link ]
  34. ↑ "Presbyterian and Congregational encouragements". September 2021.
  35. ↑ "Church information". www.affinity.org.uk.
  36. ↑ "Home". christchurchbarry.org.uk.
  37. ↑ "Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff". www.bethelpcr.org.uk.
  38. ↑ "Immanuel Presbyterian Church". www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019.
  39. ↑ "Ely Presbyterian Church (Cardiff)". www.epcew.org.uk/. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  40. ↑ "Immanuelskyrkan, Tranås". www.immanuelskyrkan.info. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
  41. ↑ "Home - Presbyterianische Kirche". Presbyterianische Kirche Berlin.
  42. ↑ "Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde". Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  43. ↑ "Resources". Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
  44. ↑ "Member Churches". International Conference of Reformed Churches. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Member Churches". www.eucrc.org. European Conference of Reformed Churches.
  46. ↑ "BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER" (PDF). epcew.org.uk. Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. p. 2.
  47. ↑ McGoldrick, James E (March 2012). Presbyterian and Reformed Churches - A Global History. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books. p. 170. ISBN   9781601783493.
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