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Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England

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Following many years of gradual decline, the Free Church of England splintered into two parts in the early years of the 21st Century. The church had had a history of evangelical witness coming forth from the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, and of being a "Reformed Protestant" denomination (see Article 4 of the Declaration of Articles of the FCE). During the 20th Century it had also gained members who simultaneously held membership in Masonic lodges.

Some of the leaders of the church at the time saw no contradiction in this, although some did, such as Bishop Donald Thompson (a co-founder of the British Evangelical Council). Those who opposed this dual membership and stood for true Protestant Reformed witness set up a conservative evangelical group made up of members from both within and from outside the Free Church of England (FCE) called the "Fellowship of Reformed Evangelicals." The format would have been similar in style to the organization, "Reform," and would, its members reasoned, have enabled the FCE to continue without the split that has now occurred. However, the effort failed to reach its objectives.

Additionally, the bringing in of ministers to the FCE (such as Rev John Fenwick) who were more oriented towards the broader Anglican concept of "Scripture, Tradition, and Reason" than to the historic FCE position of "Sola Scriptura" added to the tension. Eventually the pressure led to a meeting which was held in the Methodist Church in Swanwick, Derbyshire, where the "Free Church of England - Evangelical Connexion" was founded.

The initial make-up consisted of two bishops, about half the FCE clergy and half the FCE laity - these represented approximately half of the FCE in total. All were committed to the FCE as a church that was NOT to be 'broad' in character but which was to reject indiscriminate ecumenism, to reject Freemasonry, and to embrace the "Word of God as the Sole Rule of Faith and Practice" (Article 1 of the FCE Declaration of Articles). The group continues and has not only congregations in the UK but also now one minister residing in the USA and a number of ministers and individuals in New Zealand.

The group appears to have a viable future as a small but realistic episcopal denomination in the Uk and further afield.

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