English Presbyterianism facts for kids
Presbyterianism in England is a way of organizing Christian churches. It's part of the Protestant faith, and its followers believe churches should be run by groups of elders, not by bishops. This system is called Presbyterian church government.
It started in England around 1558. English Presbyterianism is a bit different from how Presbyterian churches are run in other countries like Scotland. Historically, some believed English Presbyterian churches were mostly run by their local members. But many early leaders, like Thomas Cartwright, imagined a system with local churches, larger groups called 'classes,' and even bigger meetings called 'synods.'
Most English Presbyterian churches joined the United Reformed Church in 1972. However, in recent years, groups like the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales and the International Presbyterian Church have grown a little in England.
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How Presbyterianism Began in England
English Presbyterianism started around 1558, when Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne. At this time, many Protestants who had left England to escape Queen Mary I's strict religious laws began to return.
These returning Protestants, known as Puritans, wanted to change the Church of England. They believed the church should follow the patterns found in the Bible more closely. They wanted to remove fancy clothes for priests and get rid of bishops. Instead, they thought churches should be run by groups of elders, which is the Presbyterian way.
Big Changes During the Civil War
A major time for English Presbyterianism was 1641. This was a very busy year in England, with lots of debates about how the church should be run. Many people in London asked Parliament to make big changes to the church.
This led to the Westminster Assembly of Divines, a group of religious leaders who met to discuss church rules. In 1645, Parliament decided that every local church should have a "congregational assembly." This group would include elders chosen by the minister and church members.
However, when King Charles I was executed in 1649, many Presbyterians were shocked. This event caused a split between them and another group called the Independents. English Presbyterians wanted to reform the church further, but they remained loyal to the King.
After the King Returned
When King Charles II returned to power in 1660, the bishop-led system was brought back to the Church of England. This created a problem for Anglican ministers who preferred the Presbyterian way.
In 1662, a law called the Act of Uniformity 1662 said that ministers had to accept the Book of Common Prayer completely and be ordained by a bishop. About 2,000 ministers refused to accept these rules. They were removed from their jobs and often their homes on St Bartholomew's Day. This event is known as the Great Ejection.
For over a century after this, these ministers and their followers faced difficult times. They were often persecuted.
New Chapels and Different Views
The Church of England struggled to find enough new ministers after so many were removed. Some ejected ministers continued to preach, baptize, and marry people in secret. They often used small, unused chapels or their own homes.
By the end of the 1600s, the Church of England took back these chapels. So, the groups who disagreed with the official church, known as English Dissenters, began to build their own chapels.
These Dissenters were often called 'Independent' or 'Presbyterian.' The 'Independents' saw themselves as separate from the official church. They often followed strict Calvinist beliefs.
Presbyterians, however, felt their chapels were open to everyone in the local area who was a good person. They saw their chapels as just another local church. This view sometimes caused problems with Anglicans, who thought Presbyterians were trying to divide the church.
Over time, the open attitude of Presbyterian congregations led them to choose ministers with more liberal ideas. This, along with their training in special schools called Dissenting Academies, led some Presbyterian churches to adopt different beliefs, eventually moving towards Christian Unitarianism.
Presbyterian Church of England
The Presbyterian Church of England was formed in 1876. It brought together English churches that were part of the Scottish United Presbyterian Church and other Presbyterian groups in England.
United Reformed Church
In 1972, almost all the churches of the Presbyterian Church of England joined with most of the churches from the Congregational Church in England and Wales. Together, they formed the United Reformed Church in England.
International Presbyterian Church
The International Presbyterian Church started in England in 1969, with its first church in Ealing. By 2019, it had nine English churches. It also has seven Korean-speaking churches in England.
Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales was set up in 1996. By 2016, it had 17 churches. Twelve of these were in England, three in Wales, one in Sweden, and one in Germany.
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