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Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales

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Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
PolityPresbyterian
Clerk of PresbyteryFalko Drijfhout
AssociationsInternational Conference of Reformed Churches
RegionEngland, Wales, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany
Origin1996
Congregations23
PublicationsThe Presbyterian Network
www.epcew.org.uk
Religion in England
Religion in Wales
History
Structures
Topics
Christianity
Ecumenism
Non-Christian faiths

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

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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

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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

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

England

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Congregation Town or City Minister Website Image
All Saints Presbyterian Church Newcastle Upon Tyne Rev Benjamin Wontrop[18] [1]
Blackburn Evangelical Presbyterian Church Blackburn[19] Rev Norman Green[20]
Bury St Edmunds Presbyterian Church Bury St Edmunds Matthew Jolley[21] [2]
Cambridge Presbyterian Church Cambridge Rev Douglas McCallum[22] [3]
Chelmsford Presbyterian Church Chelmsford Rev Darren Moore[23] [4]
Durham Presbyterian Church Durham Rev Phil Baiden[24] [5]
East Hull Presbyterian Church Hull Vacant [6]
Hexham Presbyterian Church Hexham Vacant[25] [7]
Naunton Lane Evangelical Presbyterian Church Leckhampton, Cheltenham Rev Matt Faux[26] [8]
Oxford Presbyterian Church Oxford (Northgate Hall) Rev Andy Young[27] [9]
Sheffield Presbyterian Church Sheffield Rev Dr Kevin Bidwell[28] [10]
Solihull Presbyterian Church Solihull Rev Dr Stephen Dancer[29] [11]
Sunderland Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sunderland Rev Nathan Hilton[30] [12]
Whaddon Road Evangelical Presbyterian Church Cheltenham Rev David Pfeiffer,[31] Rev Larry Wilkes [13]
Lincoln Presbyterian Church Lincoln Rev Ben Thomas[32] [14]
Gloucester Evangelical Presbyterian Church Gloucester Rev Michael Cochran,[33]
Rev Tim Dalton[34] 		[15]

Wales

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Congregation Town or City Minister Website Image
Christ Presbyterian Church Barry[35] Rev Dr Drew Goodman[36] [16]
Bethel Presbyterian Church Cardiff[37] Rev Andrew Graham [17]
Immanuel Presbyterian Church Cardiff[38] Rev Dr Peter Naylor [18]
Ely Presbyterian Church Ely, Cardiff[39] Rev Philip Haines [19]

Sweden

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See also: Evangelical Reformed Church in Sweden

Germany

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Switzerland

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Publications

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

International organisations

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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

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  1. ^ 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.
  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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