Publisher's Synopsis
The Free Church of England is a member of the Anglican Communion but its been here since 1844. These days (since 2016) they self style themselves as Evangelical Catholics in their 2016 Renewal of a Vision. I have investigated it but it comes down to a clergy discussion between a Bishop and another churchman over 150 years ago. The Reformed Episcopal Church (USA) split from the Protestant Episcopal Church of the USA in 1873. The adoption of their Principles in 1873 precludes The Evangelical Catholic ever having been more than an idea between two clergyman but never adopted by the Church. Its a bit like me and you having a discussion and in 150 years time someone basing a new Anglican tradition on it even when the Church Principles preclude it. It didn't start that way. A Church set up by South Devon Evangelicals to fight the despotic Bishop of Exeter Henry Phillpotts who tried to impose on his churches the Oxford Movement. The Anglican Church was a Protestant church that came out of the Reformation but was in its nature still very much the Catholic Church it had always been under the Pope. As Church developed It became Evangelical during the Eighteenth Century Evangelical Revival but all was set to change in the nineteenth century when Catholicism was advocated within the Anglican Church. Catholic only means Universal Worldwide Church but has become a much derided term. Its inextricably linked now with those who believe in Transubstantiation in that the elements of Bread and Wine do become the Body and Blood of Christ. A Protestant believes the Elements remain in heaven and are just tokens. The Oxford Movement sought to return the Anglican Church to its Catholic roots and also advocated ritualism. The Free Church of England was set up as a protest against ritualism and Anglo Catholicism within the Church of England. Almost 170 years later after the retirement of its last Calvinist Reformed Evangelical Bishop in 2013 the Anglo Catholics were now trying to lead the Church down the path towards Catholicism, ritualism and all the things the church had been set up to protest against. A split in 2003 had mapped out a Denomination into two Groups but now in 2020 the larger group the Free Church of England self styled themselves as Evangelical Catholics, adopted a hireachichal Bishops structure with Apostolic Succession. The smaller group the Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England kept loyal to the Churches Evangelical Protestant nature. With the 2016 Renewal of a Vision the Reformation is denied. Protestantism has reached an impasse Protestant and Catholic should reconcile. You tell that to The Anglican Martyrs had said in the reign of Queen Mary the Catholic daughter of King Henry VIII "We shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out. Be of good cheer, master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle in England, as I hope, by God's grace, shall never be put out. Be of good comfort, brother and play the man. If I deliver myself up to be burned but not have love I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13 v 3.
