HISTORY
Between the years 1910-1914, a group of Christians in Preston gathered and struggled together to plant a Protestant Church. The congregation acquired an old barn over a stable in Eldon Street where a Sunday School was started, and evening services were held. This was subsequently replaced by a room in Queen's Mill. Due to an increase in membership, a plot of land was purchased on Eldon Street, basically, upon the then Brookhouse Football Grounds in 1912. In 1914, the Rev'd James Oatey became the first minister of this new church. Then, much effort was concentrated immediately upon construction of the church building and Sunday School. The membership of the new church had a mind to work together to excavate the foundations. And, four months after the start of the Great War (1914), the church doors were opened. The congregation was officially named—St David's Protestant Church. This local Anglican Church affiliated with The Federation of Unattached Church of England Congregations for some years. In 1937, The Rev'd J.C. Stephens came from South Wales to be its minister. As minister of St David's, he persuaded the congregation to consider its greater future by associating with the Free Church of England, which at that time consisted of about 180 Churches. In 1938, a decision was made to join The Free Church of England.
WHAT IS THE FREE CHURCH OF ENGLAND?
The Free Church of England is part of the story of nearly 2,000 years of Christian worship and witness in England and beyond. We have a unique history and look to the future with confidence in God.
We are Christian Churches who are committed to the maintenance and propagation of the faith once delivered to the saints and lived out in every generation in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We are by definition of our Constitution considered 'a branch of the Holy Catholic Church, united by faith to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church'.
We are Reformed. Like many Churches, our history is influenced by the events which occurred in the Church in Western Europe in the 16th century—the Reformation.
We hold the conviction that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God and that only those doctrines which are contained in Scripture are necessary for salvation.
We stand in the Anglican tradition. Nowadays, the word 'Anglican' often has negative associations, suggesting a body of people with a wide range of beliefs. For us, however, the word defines us as part of the historic Church constantly cleansed and renewed by the power of the Bible. Our structures, ministry and forms of worship are in direct continuity with those of the Church of England and our Constitution requires us to 'conform to the ancient laws and customs of the Church of England.
We are a sacramental Church. We believe in the Divine institution of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion). It is our practice to baptise infants as well as adults. The Holy Communion is our central act of worship in which we 'proclaim the Lord's death until He comes' and 'after an heavenly and spiritual manner' partake of the Body and Blood of Christ.
We believe in the unity of the Church. We recognise the oneness of all who are in Jesus Christ. Our Constitution requires us to 'maintain communion with all Christian Churches' and to set forward 'quietness, peace and love among all Christian people'. The Free Church of England is a member of the Free Churches Group, a body in association with Churches Together in England.
We believe in the ministry of all the baptised. By the grace of the Holy Spirit every member of the Church is entrusted with the duty and privilege of witnessing to Jesus Christ, and with gifts to use in the service of the Church and the world. Ministry in its fullest sense involves the laity as well as the clergy.
We are an episcopal Church. We affirm and continue the ancient three-fold ministry of bishops, presbyters and deacons. While we are committed to maintaining the historic episcopate, we recognise the validity of other forms of ministry. In conformity with Scripture and the historic Tradition of the Church, only men are admitted to the three traditional Orders and to the office of Lay Reader.
We are a liturgical Church. A Book of Common Prayer, virtually identical with that of The Church of England, is the basic standard for our worship, though modern language forms are currently being explored. Outside our main services flexible and non-liturgical forms of worship may be used.
We are a bridge Church. Our unique history gives us many points of contact both with the historic episcopal Churches and with Churches that were organised at the Reformation and afterwards with different structures. In recent years there has been a great deal of consensus reached among the Churches as a result of years of theological dialogue. We believe that we are uniquely placed to assist in putting some of these insights into practice.
OUR HERITAGE INCLUDES
- The joy of knowing that a relationship with Jesus Christ changes lives.
- An awareness of continuity with the Church of the Fathers and with the Celtic, Saxon and Mediaeval Church in this land.
- The experience of the Reformation which recalled the Church to its Biblical foundations and stressed the importance of the individual's relationship with God, justified by grace alone, through faith.
- The Revival of the 18th century and the upheavals of the 19th century which brought about our independence as an episcopal, evangelical and liturgical Church.
- The experience of over 200 years of independent existence, free from any State involvement, and seeking to maintain our own life, witness and worship with only the resources of the local community.
- The Free Church of England is part of the legacy of the Evangelical Revival of the 18th century as expressed through the ministry of The Rev'd George Whitefield (1714-1770).