Herefordshire Through Time
Herefordshire Through Time
The Protestant religious denominations found in England after the medieval period are as follows:
This was the religion of the Established Church in England.
A broad religious movement at the beginning of the Radical Reformation (1520-1580). The name comes from the Greek, meaning to "re-baptise". The Anabaptists sought to re-establish a true Christian community and saw their members as "new saints" of one church. They placed value on the inspired word of God and love for fellow men, and shunned contact with the outside world. They practised adult baptism as a pledge of a person's faith and taught complete religious freedom and independent control. They denounced predestination and believed in free will.
A religious movement started by John Smyth in the early 1600s. He was the leader of a group of Non-conformists who fled the religious persecution of James I. They first fled to Holland in 1608 before later returning to England, where the first Baptist Church was set up in 1612. Baptists believe that the baptism of children is false, as they are not able to personally bear witness to God's power. They also believe in full immersion baptisms and freedom of conscience and religious liberty. After the Restoration they were recognised as one of the three religions of Protestant Dissenters. John Bunyan, who wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, was one of their number.
A religious movement inspired by the teaching of John Calvin (1509-1564) who was a Christian reformer and theologian. Calvinists believe in the sovereignty of God over every area of life and the supremacy of scripture as the sole rule of faith and practice. They also believe in predestination, God's divine omnipotence and the salvation of the elect.
Founded by John Thomas (1805-1871), a physician from Richmond, Virginia, USA. The name reflects Thomas' claim to return to the beliefs and practice of the earliest disciples. Christadelphians base their beliefs on the Bible, regarding it as fully inspired by God and without mistake. They are waiting for Christ to return to earth to set up the Kingdom of God. Belief and baptism (adult) are the only way to true salvation. Christadelphians do not take any part in politics, voting, or military service. They also have no ministers or clergy.
Congregational churches are those which assert the autonomy (self rule) of the local congregation. Their historical roots are in Elizabethan Separatism, with its insistence that the "gathered church" consists of those who commit themselves to Christ and each other. Its members believe in a covenant of loyalty and mutual edification, emphasising the importance of God's will whilst gathered in Church Meeting. They believe that when they meet in Christ's name He is in their midst, guiding and inspiring their thoughts and actions. The Congregational Union was formed in 1831.
A form of Baptist religion. At the beginning of the 17th century Non-conformist religions were starting to appear in England. These religions went against the Established Church and many were persecuted for their beliefs. Many members of these new religions felt unable to remain in England and so emigrated to other countries. One group emigrated to Holland and another set out for the Americas. The group that left for America are now referred to as Independents. They returned to England later, when tolerance of different religions had grown.
Also go by the name of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. In 1870, C. T. Russell preached that Jesus Christ, the perfect man, would return to earth in 1874 in order to prepare it for the Kingdom of God, which was expected after the Battle of Armageddon in 1914 (amazing to think that he "predicted" World War I over 40 years before it happened). Believers had the responsibility to study the Bible and to warn people about the impending "end time". Only a small "flock" of about 144,000 were expected to gain salvation. Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions and practise full immersion baptisms.
Named after Martin Luther, a well-known German monk. Luther was angered by the apparent corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1517 he protested against some Catholic practices, such as having to pay to have your sins forgiven (a practice known as indulgence). This protest sparked off the Reformation and led to the formation of several independent churches.
A Christian denomination derived from the preaching of John (1703-1791) and Charles (1707-1788) Wesley. The term Methodist began as a nickname representing their methodical pursuit of biblical holiness. In the early 1730s a small group of students at Oxford University would regularly meet for Bible study, to receive Communion and to pray. They would also undertake good deeds and soon became ridiculed, as such behaviour was rare. For the Wesleys, works of faith were just as important as prayer. Methodists were interested in the welfare and education of the poor. Their doctrine emphasises, within human freewill, the need for holy living as an outcome of faith leading towards "Christian perfection".
Has its memorial day in 1457 after John Huss, a Bohemian Reformer, was burned at the stake in 1415, and his ashes thrown into the Rhine. His followers then broke into different factions, but 10 years later were brought together as one church. In the early years they were closely connected to the Lutheran Church. By 1627 the persecution of Protestants caused this religion to become almost extinct but a few of its followers survived. In 1722 they built a church at Herrnhut in Saxony, having found refuge there. They sought to bring witness to Christ in places which did not know him; their members carried out many missions to Africa and elsewhere. They believe in fellowship and do not create credal statements. They annually publish a book with Old and New Testament passages for daily meditation. The government of the church is conferential. Synods form the legislative and Boards of Elders the executive powers. The General Synod meets in Germany and is composed of the ministers and delegates of the various congregations. The finances and discipline of individual churches are in the hands of a committee responsible to the congregation.
These are forms of Christian Church order and doctrine that emerged from the Reformation relying on the ministry and governance of elders, i.e. they have no bishops. They believed that the Church must continually reform to stay relevant (semper reformanda).
This form of Methodism grew up about 70 years after the rise of Wesleyan Methodism. Its pioneers were Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, who had been active members of the Wesleyan Methodist movement. They were impressed by reports of the successes of Camp Meetings that had been held in America, and in 1807 they held the now famous Mow Cop Camp meeting. However opposition to these camps meetings was strong among the Wesleyans and they disclaimed any connection with them, believing such an event improper in England. Mr. Bourne and Mr. Clowes continued to hold Camp Meetings and were eventually expelled from the Methodist religion, whereupon they set up their own society, the Primitive Methodists.
Members of society that were dissatisfied with the Elizabethan Settlement of Religion. The term "Puritan" was first used as one of abuse in the 1560s. The Puritan movement spawned many other religions, such as Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, etc. The English Civil War is sometimes referred to as the "Puritan Revolution" as it was the Non-conformist religious groups fighting for Parliamentarian rule against the troops of King Charles I, leader of the Church of England.
Also known as the Society of Friends. Founded by George Fox (1624-1691). They believe in the unworldliness of religion, the authority of conscience and the mysterious union of Christ with the soul of man. Quakers refuse to take oaths on scripture grounds, but are well known for their work for the poor and orphaned. In Leominster they set up the Orphans Printing Press, which enabled orphans to learn a trade and earn some money. This business is still going strong today.
A branch of the Methodist church founded by John Wesley in 1740. Wesley had associated with the Moravian Church and many of their ideas are represented in Wesleyan Methodism.
[Original author: Miranda Greene, 2003]