Free Church of England
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The Free Church of England is an Anglican church which separated from the established Church of England in 1844. The church was founded by evangelical clergy in Devon in response to the Anglo-Catholicism of Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter. It was initially supported by Edward Adolphus St Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, who built the first church in Bridgetown.
In 1927, the Free Church of England (FCE) entered into full communion with the Reformed Episcopal Church, which was founded in 1873 by Anglican evangelicals in the United States. The name, "Reformed Episcopal Church" is now an alternate name for the Free Church of England. The Free Church of England is a thoroughly Protestant Anglican church body, worshipping in the Low Church tradition and holding to the principles of Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, and Salvation only by the Name of Christ. Such teachings as ministers being sacrificing priests and Apostolic Succession (which has been retained) being essential for a valid ministry are denied.
As of January 2004, The Free Church of England had two dioceses in England, four congregations in New Zealand, and a church in Russia-- The Church of Christ the Saviour, St. Petersburg.
Parishes in England are concentrated in the north and south, though there remain three active parishes in the West Midlands - Emmanuel Church, Birmingham; St. Jude, Walsall and St. Andrew, Bentley.
In the first years of the Twenty-first Century, several divisive issues have faced FCE conventions. One was the question of church members also holding membership in Masonic Lodges. It was decided that such membership was incompatible with the Christian faith, and a decision was reached to call for all such church members who also hold membership in secret societies to be counselled about the conflicting values of the two.
Additionally, a still-unresolved proposal for the Church to enter into new ecumenical activities was debated. A majority insisted that although the FCE had long supported fellowship with other Evangelical churches, the ecumenical suggestion did not limit itself to clearly Evangelical churches. The former faction has come to be called the Free Church of England (Ecumenical), while the latter is often referred to as the Free Church of England (Evangelical Connexion) (www.FCE-EC.org.uk).
Under discussion at the moment is a document entitled 'Agenda for Renewal', by the Rt. Rev Dr. J. B. Shucksmith, which among other things envisages the possibility of a modern language liturgy to supplement the use of the Book of Common Prayer. An Alternative Services Measure already exists, which provides for the occasional use of Authorised Alternative Liturgies with the approval of the Diocesan Bishop.
Another development stirring some concern within the FCE was the result of an action taken by the Church's North American partner. The Reformed Episcopal Church in the United States and Canada recently signed a merger agreement with an Anglo-Catholic jurisdiction, the Anglican Province of America. The move has caused some in the Church to question the future doctrinal stance of the Reformed Episcopal churches and even the viability of the connection between the British and the American churches. The merger is planned for no later than 2008.