The Free Church of England (FCE) – a ‘Reformed and Protestant’ body set up by disillusioned Anglicans in the mid-19th century – is facing turmoil amid calls for its Primus, John Fenwick, to quit.
A letter calling for him to step down has been signed by half of the UK’s active FCE clergy, including former Church of England ministers Peter Sanlon and Steven Hanna. It says decisions made by Bishop Fenwick are ‘endangering the peace and future flourishing’ of the denomination.
There are around 20 FCE congregations in England and 25 in South America, with a few in other countries also. In recent years a few evangelical ministers have left the Church of England to join the FCE, which has developed links with the conservative Anglican movement GAFCON.
The letter, sent to the FCE’s General Council, says: ‘It is undeniable that he has, regrettably, been a cause of disunity.
‘We are a small denomination with a meaningful role to play – but we are repeatedly told that he is the primary reason for difficulties we face. This is not a personal comment or a personalised attack – it is the reason people give for leaving or choosing not to work with the FCE.
‘The Northern Diocese itself, after 15 years under his leadership, is in a parlous state, having only 7 congregations, at least two of which have fewer than 7 members.’
Meanwhile, the Synod of the South American Diocese of the FCE has declared itself in ‘impaired communion’ with the Bishop Fenwick, decrying ‘doctrinal deviations’ and ‘grave faults’ in his leadership.
A recent dispute within the denomination has revolved around the FCE’s decision to try and close its congregation at St Stephen’s, Middleborough. In response, members are establishing a new ‘reformed evangelical fellowship’ in Teesside.
The FCE has suffered previous splits. The ‘Evangelical Connexion of the Free Church of England’ is a ‘Biblical, evangelical and reformed’ body of five churches that came into being in 2003 as a result of earlier disagreements within the denomination.
en contacted Bishop Fenwick for a response a while ago but did not receive any reply prior to going to press.
