Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Ireland) facts for kids

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) is a Christian church group found in Northern Ireland. It follows a type of Christian belief called Calvinism. It is the smallest of the Presbyterian churches in Northern Ireland.

The church started on 15 October 1927. It was first called the Irish Evangelical Church. It was founded by Reverend James Hunter and James (W.J.) Grier. They were joined by others who left the Irish Presbyterian Church. This church is now known as the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

History of the EPC Church

Development of the Presbyterian churches

The church was formed after a disagreement within the Irish Presbyterian Church. This disagreement was about the teachings of Professor James E. Davey. Some people, including James Hunter, believed his teachings were wrong. They were influenced by the ideas of a US scholar named John Gresham Machen.

After a church meeting voted to support Professor Davey, the group who disagreed decided to leave. They then formed the Irish Evangelical Church in October 1927.

When it first started, the church had ten groups of worshippers. Six were in Belfast, two in County Antrim, and two in County Tyrone. In 1964, the church changed its name to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. By 2013, the EPC had nine groups. Most were in Counties Antrim and Down. There was also one in Richhill, County Armagh and one in Omagh, County Tyrone.

The church has a magazine called The Irish Evangelical. It was first published in June 1928. W.J. Grier was its editor for 50 years. When the church changed its name in 1964, the magazine became The Evangelical Presbyterian. It is now published every three months.

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is part of a group called the Caleb Foundation. This group supports creationist views and traditional social values. Wallace Thompson, an EPC member, became the chairman of this foundation in 2009.

In 2010, the EPC did not support a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. They believed the proposal went against their Christian beliefs. In 2011–2012, the EPC also supported a campaign against funding for the London Pride festival. This campaign was led by another group called the Christian Institute.

Working with Churches Around the World

The EPC has worked closely with the Free Church of Scotland since its early days. They have worked together on missionary projects. Since 1932, they have focused on work in India, South Africa, and Peru. An EPC minister has also served in Nigeria since 1987.

Some members of the church also work with other mission groups. These include AIM (in Uganda and Chad) and Mission Africa (in Nigeria). Another group is Africa Christian TextbookS (ACTS). This group provides affordable books to pastors in Africa. It was started by an EPC minister, Reverend Sid Garland.

The EPC used to be a member of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC). However, they left this group. This happened because of a disagreement about allowing certain people to become ministers in another church group. After leaving, the EPC joined the International Conference of Reformed Churches.

Connections with Churches in the UK and Ireland

The EPC has helped develop and works closely with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales. They also have connections with other evangelical churches in the UK and Ireland. These connections are made through their membership in Affinity.

What the EPC Believes

The EPC follows the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Westminster Catechisms. These are important documents that explain their beliefs. All church leaders must agree to these beliefs.

Here are some of the main things the EPC believes:

• They believe in the Trinity, which means God is one but exists as Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit.
• They believe Jesus died on the cross and came back to life to save people.
• They believe the Bible is God's true word (sola scriptura).
• They believe people are saved by faith alone (sola fide).
• They believe God has a plan for people's lives.
• They believe Sunday should be kept as a special day for worship and rest.
• They believe the Roman Catholic teaching about Transubstantiation in the Mass is not supported by the Bible.

The EPC has made a few small changes to some parts of the Westminster Confession. These changes are about how they understand certain historical figures and rules for marriage.

EPC and Politics

The EPC encourages its members to vote in elections. They ask members to use their Christian beliefs to guide their choices. The church itself is not linked to any political parties.

Church Meetings and Activities

Most EPC churches have two services on Sundays. They also have a meeting during the week for prayer and Bible study. Other activities can vary by church. These might include:

• Sunday Schools for children.
• Youth clubs for teenagers.
• Meetings for ladies.
• Parent and Toddler groups.
• Support groups for addiction.
• Summer clubs for children and young people.

Conferences and Events

The EPC holds an annual Presbytery Day Conference or Family Day. This usually happens in April or May. All the church groups come together for this event. They listen to a guest speaker. There are also facilities for young children, a bookstall, refreshments, and lunch. Past speakers have included Geoff Thomas and Derek Thomas.

The Evangelical Bookshop

The EPC has a close connection with the Evangelical Bookshop. This is a separate charity located in Belfast. It also has an online store at http://www.evangelicalbookshop.co.uk.

In 2016, the Bookshop published a history of the EPC. It was written by Ernest C. Brown and is called By Honour and Dishonour.

Other Presbyterian Churches in Ireland

• Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster
• Non-subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland
• Presbyterian Church in Ireland
• Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland