Presbyterian split queried

Following a lengthy period of internal disagreements, four Presbyterian congregations have attempted to separate themselves from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of England and Wales (EPCEW) – but EPCEW has refused to recognise their action.

EPCEW was established in the 1990s and has grown to 22 congregations across the UK and Europe. However, two years ago disagreements arose within the Sheffield (SPC) congregation.

It culminated with the Sessions (eldership) of SPC and also those of both Blackburn and Bury St Edmunds removing their congregations from EPCEW by unilaterally entering into ‘Deeds of Separation’. The Lincoln congregation, a Sheffield plant, was also taken out of EPCEW by SPC.