Countess Free Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Countess Free Church Ely |
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| Countess of Huntingdon Free Church Ely | |
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| Location | Ely, Cambridgeshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Countess of Huntingdon Connexion |
| History | |
| Founded | 1700s |
| Founder(s) | Countess of Huntingdon |
The Countess Free Church is a friendly church located in the heart of Ely, a town in Cambridgeshire, England. It's a place where people gather for Sunday services and other activities throughout the week.
They meet every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. During the week, the church also hosts many groups and activities for all ages. They focus on helping the community by holding various meetings. You can find the church buildings on Chapel Street, very close to the famous Ely Cathedral.
What the Church Believes
The people who are part of the Countess Free Church see themselves as "a church working to help the whole city." Their main motto is "Seeking to Worship, Seeking to Serve". This means they aim to worship God and serve the people around them.
The church operates like a Baptist church. This means they practice "believer's baptism." This is when people choose to be baptized after they have decided to follow Christian beliefs. The church also uses a "congregational model" for how it is run. This means the members of the church make important decisions together.
A Look at History
The Countess of Huntingdon Free Church Ely was started in 1785. It was founded by Selina Hastings, who was known as the Countess of Huntingdon. The church is part of a smaller group of churches called the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion. This group is a type of Protestant Christian denomination with just over 20 churches.
In the past, this church was also part of another historical group called the Congregational Union. Today, the church's practices are very similar to Baptist churches. They believe in believer's baptism and let the church members help lead. In 2019, the church also joined the Eastern Baptist Association. This group is a part of Baptists Together in the United Kingdom.
In recent years, the church has been very active in helping the city of Ely. They have worked with other churches on important projects. These include the Ely Foodbank, which helps people get food. They also support the Ely CAP Debt Centre, which helps people manage their money. The church also has chaplains who work in the local secondary school.
As the city of Ely continues to grow, the church is looking for new ways to help. They are thinking about how to support the people living in new housing areas.
