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.
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:
Year
Number of congregations
Notes
2000
6
[ 12]
2005
10
[ 13]
2010
15
Includes two congregations in Sweden.[ 14]
2015
17
Includes one congregation in Sweden and one congregation in Germany.[ 15]
2020
23
There 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
Wales
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]
References
^ a b 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 .
^ "About Us" . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales .
^ "Faculty Members" . Westminster Seminary .
^ "Our Story" . Westminster Seminary .
^ "Presbyterianism in England Today (Part 3)" . Graham's Uncommon Place . 20 June 2010.
^ "There Are Presbyterians in England and They're Having a Conference" . The Heidelblog . 25 September 2012.
^ "Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church" . Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church . Retrieved 2018-05-23 .
^ "Lincoln | Sheffield Presbyterian Church" .
^ "Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church" . www.facebook.com . Retrieved 2020-11-28 .
^ "Sunderland Presbyterian Bible Study | nil desperandum auspice Deo" . sunderlandpres.org.uk . Retrieved 2018-05-23 .
^ "EPCEW Statement on Church Planting" (PDF) . epcew.org.uk .
^ "Congregations" . epcew.org.uk . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2000-12-04. Retrieved 2016-06-26 .
^ "Congregations" . epcew.org.uk . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2005-12-18. Retrieved 2016-06-26 .
^ "Congregations" . epcew.org.uk . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2016-06-26 .
^ "Congregations" . epcew.org.uk . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 2016-06-26 .
^ "Congregations | EPCEW" .
^ "EPCEW Congregations" . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales Website . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2015 .
^ "Revd Benjamin Wontrop | All Saints Presbyterian Church" . All Saints' Presbyterian Church . Retrieved 29 March 2022 .
^ "Church information" . www.affinity.org.uk .
^ "Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Leadership" . Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church . Archived from the original on 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-25 .
^ "People - About Us - Cambridge Presbyterian Church" . www.cambridgepres.org.uk . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Chelmsford Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Durham Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "From Bible Study to Church Plant in Northern England - Mission to the World" .
^ "Leadership" . Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church . Retrieved 2021-06-02 .
^ "Learn about the Oxford Plant" . Gospel Reformation: UK . Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02 .
^ "Sheffield Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Solihull Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "Cheltenham – Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church | EPCEW" . Retrieved 2021-04-16 .
^ "About Us | Lincoln Presbyterian Church" . Retrieved 2020-11-28 .
^ "GRUKology Episode 16: Interview with Michael Cochran - Church Planting in Gloucester" . Gospel Reformation: UK . Retrieved 2020-11-28 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "Presbyterian and Congregational encouragements" . September 2021.
^ "Church information" . www.affinity.org.uk .
^ "Home" . christchurchbarry.org.uk .
^ "Bethel Presbyterian Church, Cardiff" . www.bethelpcr.org.uk .
^ "Immanuel Presbyterian Church" . www.immanuelcaerau.org.uk . Archived from the original on 4 June 2019.
^ "Ely Presbyterian Church (Cardiff)" . www.epcew.org.uk/ . Retrieved 2 February 2023 .
^ "Immanuelskyrkan, Tranås" . www.immanuelskyrkan.info . Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-09 .
^ "Home - Presbyterianische Kirche" . Presbyterianische Kirche Berlin .
^ "Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde" . Zürich Presbyterianische Gemeinde (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2020-11-28 .
^ "Resources" . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales .
^ "Member Churches" . International Conference of Reformed Churches . Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2013 .
^ "Member Churches" . www.eucrc.org . European Conference of Reformed Churches.
^ "BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER" (PDF) . epcew.org.uk . Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. p. 2.
^ McGoldrick, James E (March 2012). Presbyterian and Reformed Churches - A Global History . Grand Rapids, Michigan: Reformation Heritage Books. p. 170. ISBN 9781601783493 .
External links